Iyer powers Punjab past Mumbai and into IPL final against Bengaluru

Shreyas Iyer led from the front with an unbeaten 87 as Punjab Kings beat Mumbai Indians by five wickets on Sunday to set up an IPL final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Chasing 204 for victory in a rain-delayed last playoff, Punjab rode Iyer’s 41-ball knock, laced with five fours and eight sixes, to achieve their target with six balls to spare in Ahmedabad.

Iyer hit the winning six as Punjab reached their second IPL final. It will be played at the same venue — the world’s biggest cricket stadium — on Tuesday.
“I love such big occasions,” player of the match Iyer said after in the post-match presentation close to 2am local time (2030 GMT).

“I always say to myself and to my colleagues in the team that the bigger the occasion, the calmer you are, you get the big results.”

The final will produce a new IPL winner with both Bengaluru, with star batter Virat Kohli, and Punjab hunting their first title in the T20 tournament.

Bengaluru secured their berth in the final after they beat Punjab in the first qualifier last week.