Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma is delighted at the way his players have stepped up to script victories that have kept them alive in the tournament.

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On Sunday, openers Lendl Simmons (71 off 56 balls) and Parthiv Patel (59 off 36 balls) enacted lead roles in Mumbai’s 23-run win against Kings XI Punjab at Mohali.

Simmons, adjudged man of the match, hit nine fours and a six while Patel cracked five fours and three sixes, in their 111-run partnership for the first wicket.

Patel was particularly severe on Mitchell Johnson, creaming 28 runs off nine deliveries bowled by the left-arm pacer.

It helped Mumbai to a strong total of 172-3 and then their bowlers, led by pacer Lasith Malinga (2- 31), restricted Punjab’s shaky batting to 149-7 in 20 overs.

It was Mumbai’s third win on the trot after only one in their first six games. It has put them in a good position to make a charge for the playoffs and Sharma believes they are on course.

Malinga (4-23) was the star in the win against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Ambati Rayudu (53 off 27 balls) and Mitchell McClenaghan shared the honours in the victory against Rajasthan Royals and yesterday it was the turn of the openers.

“I think the guys have started taking responsibility,” Sharma said. “Everybody wants to be a hero and are putting their hands up. That’s what we’ve been talking about. It’s not just one guy winning it for us.

“Simmons and Parthiv played fantastically. We know what happens when you get such a start. For the last three-four games, we’ve had good opening partnerships.

“I hope they continue, and hopefully so will our middle-order and our bowlers. Lasith has been a magical performer for Mumbai. Whenever I throw the ball at him, I can relax. He makes a captain’s job a lot easier”

While Mumbai go from strength to strength, last year’s finalists Punjab’s campaign has completely fallen apart as they crashed to their seventh defeat in nine games.