Bravo bullies Punjab

Dwayne Bravo smashed 70 not out off 59 balls, adding 82 with Sachin Tendulkar for the third wicket

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Dwayne Bravo smashed an entertaining unbeaten half-century to help Mumbai Indians to a crushing eight-wicket victory over Kings XI Punjab and lift them to fourth in the Indian Premier League.

The West Indies all-rounder needed just 59 balls for his 70 and shared an unbroken 82-run stand with Sachin Tendulkar , who made 41 not out, to overhaul a target of 120 with more than three overs to spare in Pretoria.

Only Sunny Sohal, who smashed 43 off 23 deliveries, put up any resistance for Punjab as disciplined bowling from Harbhajan Singh and JP Duminy, who conceded just nine and 15 runs respectively in their four-over spells, and three run-outs helped set up the win.

Mumbai were on top from the time they were asked to bowl first, with Simon Katich top-edging a swing across the line at Dhawal Kulkarni to Harbhajan at mid-off.

Irfan Pathan also fell without scoring, run-out by Bravo to leave Punjab 22 for two.

Sohal showed great improvisation with his shot selection as he hit three sixes and five fours, before he too was run out courtesy of Tendulkar’s direct hit from extra cover.

Kumar Sangakkara departed cheaply to Harbhajan in the final over before the strategy break, and the introduction of Duminy brought another two wickets in the form of Mota and Yuvraj Singh.

Both departed in the 12th over, but Karan Goel’s unbeaten 20 helped Punjab reach a more respectable 119 for nine.

In response, Mumbai enjoyed a slice of luck when Pathan dropped a tough return chance to reprieve Bravo on nought, before Brett Lee had Sanath Jayasuriya taken by Mota at third man.

Bravo took full advantage, launching his assault by hitting Shanthakumaran Sreesanth for 21 in an over.

The introduction of Piyush Chawla accounted for Ajinkya Rahane, who was leg before for one, but it was only a temporary reprieve as Tendulkar joined Bravo, who went to 50 off 35 balls and continue to plunder the Punjab attack to all corners of Supersport Park.

The half-century stand was raised not long after in 37 deliveries as the pair saw Mumbai home with ease.