Kumar Sangakkara praised the confidence of Piyush Chawla after the young leg-spinner requested to bowl the penultimate over.

Chawla helped the Kings XI Punjab edge a thrilling encounter with the Mumbai Indians by just three runs.

Defending a paltry total of 119 for eight the Kings XI looked to be heading for defeat with the Indians needing 19 from the final two overs.

"I liked his confidence"

With captain Yuvraj Singh off the field, Sangakkara was left with a tough decision of who to bowl at the death and the wicketkeeper-batsman revealed Chawla had made his job easier by insisting he was the man for the job.

The leg-spinner didn't fail to deliver on his promise as he removed Harbhajan Singh with his first ball before conceding just seven runs from the over.

"I almost went with Yusuf (Abdulla) for the penultimate over. But Piyush Chawla, who in my opinion is the best leg-spinner India has, came up to me and said 'I could do it'.

"I threw the ball to him because I liked his confidence.

"It was crucial over and that changed it for us and gave us a bit of a cushion when Yusuf came on in the final over."

Needing 12 from the final over, which was bowled by Yusuf, the Indians could manage just eight runs with in-form Jean-Paul Duminy (59) crucially holing out with his side needing seven from the last three balls.

"I think we were pretty lucky and there was a lot we could have done better, but I think it was okay as long as the boys enjoyed themselves and kept the intensity in the field," Sangakkara added.

"Piyush did the job for us"

Yuvraj, who was receiving treatment on an injured finger at the end of the game, described the decision to go with Chawla so late on as a calculated risk.

"I was nervous and it was a bit of a gamble to go with Piyush for the 19th over," he said.

"But the wicket was getting slower and the Mumbai Indian spinners did a great job for them, so I thought it was good bet. Piyush did the job for us.

"To come through in such a close game as this gives us a great feeling. Everybody just hung in there and stayed together and eventually pulled off a very good victory."

Full credit to the Punjab team, says Tendulkar

Mumbai Indians skipper Sachin Tendulkar said his team's inability to build partnerships had undermined a run chase he has expected to complete.

"After the first innings we thought it was a good position to be in," he said.

"The target was 120 runs from 120 deliveries and I would think chasing that score was something I would do every time.

"We needed a couple of good partnerships, but that didn't happen. It was one of those games where the pressure built up and got to us.

"We lost three early wickets and they were quick wickets.

"Full credit to the Punjab team because they played good cricket."