Tilak Varma helps Mumbai beat Punjab by 6 wickets in Dharamsala

A blistering half-century from Tilak Varma guided the Mumbai Indians to a six-wicket victory over the Punjab Kings in Dharamsala on Thursday, handing the hosts their fifth consecutive defeat in the Indian Premier League. Chasing a target of 201, Mumbai reached 205 for four with one ball to spare.

Varma anchored the chase with an unbeaten 75 off just 33 balls, forging crucial partnerships after Mumbai lost early wickets. Ryan Rickelton provided a rapid start with 48 off 23 deliveries before Azmatullah Omarzai dismissed him. Sherfane Rutherford contributed 20 in a 61-run stand with Varma, but the defining partnership came late in the innings. Will Jacks joined Varma in the 17th over and smashed 25 not out from 10 balls. The pair plundered 22 runs from the 18th over bowled by Marco Jansen and sealed the win in the final over.

Earlier, the Punjab Kings posted 200 for eight after being asked to bat. Opener Prabhsimran Singh led the way with a fluent 57 off 32 balls, sharing a 50-run opening stand with Priyansh Arya, who made 22. However, the innings lost momentum in the middle overs due to a four-wicket haul from Mumbai’s Shardul Thakur, who finished with figures of four for 39....