DHARAMSALA: Kings XI Punjab gave Adam Gilchrist the perfect going-away gift at the HPCA Stadium here yesterday, drubbing table-toppers Mumbai Indians by 50 runs in the Pepsi Indian Premier League 2013.

There was no personal glory for Gilchrist, who only managed five runs with the bat in his final appearance in the IPL, but his team got together to ensure that the skipper walked away a satisfied man, burying Mumbai under an avalanche of runs.

Opting to chase with an eye on the playoffs, Mumbai saw Punjab run away with the game through a wonderful stand of 148 in just 86 deliveries between Shaun Marsh and Azhar Mahmood, Punjab finishing their 20 overs on a massive 183 for 8.

In reply, Aditya Tare, Ambati Rayudu, Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard all threatened briefly, but Punjab kept pegging away. Piyush Chawla got rid of both Rohit and Dinesh Karthik to ensure there was no late twist in the tale as Punjab rounded off their season with their third win in as many matches.

Gilchrist chose to bowl the last over of the game and picked up Harbhajan Singh’s wicket with his first delivery — his 13th ball in competitive senior cricket producing his only scalp — as Mumbai settled for 133 all out, Dhawal Kulkarni unable to bat with a side strain.

There was a bit of movement for Mumbai’s all-new new-ball attack of Nathan Coulter-Nile, making his IPL debut, and Rishi Dhawan. Dhawan accounted for Mandeep Singh in his first over and Coulter-Nile ensured there was no brilliant personal swansong for Gilchrist. At 6 for 2 early in the third over, Punjab were in some bother, but Marsh batted at top gear all the way through his 47-ball 63, scoring freely on both sides of the wicket. Kulkarni left the field after Marsh smashed him for three boundaries in four deliveries, but the most stunning passage of play came when Mahmood unleashed such mayhem that Mumbai were left completely shell-shocked.

Ironically enough, it was Lasith Malinga, arguably the best Twenty20 bowler going, who stoked Mahmood’s attacking instincts. Having reached two off six deliveries, Mahmood cut loose with three delectable fours to follow up a top-edged six in Malinga’s first over, which yielded 20. Marsh intelligently ceded centrestage to Mahmood, who then picked on Glenn Maxwell with two sixes and a four in his only over.

Nine of the 20 overs bowled by Mumbai fetched ten runs or more as Punjab smashed 24 fours and five sixes. Mumbai’s fielding was ragged, their catching shoddy with Mahmood dropped by Coulter-Nile and Marsh put down by Harbhajan, both in the same Dhawan over.

By the time Harbhajan went under Marsh’s slog and rattled timber, the third-wicket pair had put the game beyond Mumbai’s reach. Mahmood’s dismissal in the next over for 80 off just 44 deliveries, trapped in front by Malinga, put the brakes on the scoring somewhat, though Manan Vohra did provide the final thrust with an eight-ball 20.