Mumbai Indians on Saturday defeated Delhi Capitals by nine wickets in a crucial IPL match, played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Delhi Capitals had managed to put up only a total of 110-9 in 20 overs with Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult sharing three wickets each.
In reply, Mumbai Indians achieved the target by losing just one wicket with 5.4 overs to spare. Ishan Kishan remained unbeaten at 72 in 47 balls. The team led by Rohit Sharma have are sitting comfortably at the top in the points table with 18 points. Delhi Capitals, for their part, have now lost their fourth successive match and are placed third in the table with 14 points.
Reacting to his side’s another defeat, Delhi Capitals skipper Shreyas Iyer said, “I think we fell short at reading the wicket. We weren’t up to the mark, those wickets in the powerplay took down the momentum. It was important that we built partnerships but it happened in bits and pieces. Lots of flaws to point out but we’ve got to believe in ourselves. You actually can’t anticipate how the wicket’s going to play right from the start. Once the openers get a momentum going, you can read it and 150-160 is a good score on these sorts of wickets. We’ll have to be fearless against RCB and keep things simple. It’s an important game for us, do-or-die depending on how they play today. Not thinking much about the future, trying to stay in the present.”
Mumbai Indians’ stand-in captain Kieron Pollard said, “Boult was excpetional. That’s his strength, bowling with the new ball. He’s consistently given us good starts. Bumrah, I kept delaying him, on this track with his angles. He’s jumping to bowl in the powerplays, but again I saw today getting those early wickets, and with the spinners getting grip, kept him for the middle overs. Each and every game Ishan is getting better and better. Long may it continue. Been able to adapt to different scenarios. Didn’t even start at the beginning, then No. 4. He prefers to often, and he’s adapting. Rohit is getting better, getting there. Start of the tournament you aim to get to the playoffs, and now it’s about getting to the top two. We’re rewriting history.”
Ishan Kishan was declared Man Of The Match.
Both Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals have one match remaining. Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals have 12 points each with one match remaining.
Scores in brief:
Mumbai Indians: 111/1 (Ishan Kishan 72*, Quinton de Kock 26; Anrich Nortje 1/25)
Delhi Capitals: 110/9 (Shreyas Iyer 25, Rishabh Pant 21; Jasprit Bumrah 3/17, Trent Boult 3/21)
Mumbai Indians beat Delhi Capitals by 9 wickets