IPL 2020: Clinical MI hand DC a nine-wicket hiding in Dubai

Dubai - Chasing 111, Mumbai Indians got off to a steady start as openers Quinton de Kock and Ishan Kishan put on 38 runs inside the first six overs

An all-round performance and an unbeaten 47-ball 72 from Ishan Kishan powered Mumbai Indians to a massive nine wickets win over Delhi Capitals at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday.

Table-toppers Mumbai dominated in all facets of the game to ease past Delhi’s 110-run target and ensure a comfy top-two slot with 18 points. For third-placed Delhi, despite a three-match losing streak, play-off spot at stake and a much-needed net run rate booster, their batsmen fell like ninepins against Mumbai’s fiery quickies Jasprit Bumrah (3/17) and Trent Boult (3/21). Mumbai executed their plans to perfection as a listless Delhi were reduced to 110/9 from 20 overs.

In reply, wicketkeeper and opener Quinton de Kock, who got to study the unused surface as Mumbai bowled, started watchfully in the company of Kishan. The Mumbai pair took their time to settle down and were quiet while making just 10 from the first three overs. They exploded with three boundaries off pacer Anrich Nortje and a couple of streaky ones against Delhi mainstay Kagiso Rabada. Mumbai reached 38 from the first power play. The duo was cautious against an innovative R Ashwin, who even tried slinging deliveries to grind out a wicket. Batsmen did compensate by smoking Praveen Dubey and Harshal Patel for boundaries as 68 was up at half-way stage. The partnership was broken as de Kock (28-ball 26) played onto his stumps with just 43 more required from 58 balls.

Kishan brought up his 50 from 37 balls. Joined by Suryakumar Yadav, Kishan ambled to the target by hammering sixes, including one to the victory and a man of the match award.

Earlier, Mumbai blazed away with a sharp opening spell from Boult, who packed off both the openers. Shikhar Dhawan’s sudden dip in form continued – a second-ball duck after his first-ball dismissal against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Prithvi Shaw (11-ball 10) was able to slice Boult for two fours and reach double digit score – his first in five outings but the New Zealand pacer knocked him with a sharp delivery. Delhi managed a mere 22 on the board after six over – the second lowest total after the first power play. Spinners Jayant Yadav and Krunal Pandya maintained the stranglehold.

Delhi skipper Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant went into repair work. Delhi found some luck as Pant, on 10, was dropped by skipper Kieron Pollard off Nathan Coulter-Nile. But Keeper de Kock pulled off a superb stumping off spinner Rahul Chahar to remove Iyer (29-ball 25) and end a 35-run third-wicket partnership. Soon Bumrah got into the thick of things as he snared Marcus Stoinis (2) and trapped Pant (24-ball 21) as Delhi slipped to 63/5 after 12 overs. In the third over of his spell, the efficient Bumrah pinned Harshal Patel (5) to take the purple cap from Rabada with his 23rd victim. Coulter-Nile picked Shimron Hetmyer (11). Boult then returned to get R Ashwin (12) caught brilliantly by Pandya as Delhi folded up for 110 runs, which was eclipsed by Mumbai with 34 balls to spare.

With the result, Delhi slipped to their fourth loss and having failed to make Mumbai bat beyond 15 overs slipped below Kings XI Punjab in the net run rate. Delhi still sit third with 14 points, followed by three teams on 12 points and have a chance to qualify for the play-off spot in the tournament.

ashwani@khaleejtimes.com

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