IPL 2020: Kishan, Yadav, Pandya help Mumbai Indians rack up 200

Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav came up with their fourth half-century of the season while Hardik Pandya provided a late order blitz as defending champions the Mumbai Indians laid down a stiff marker for the Delhi Capitals in Qualifier 1 of the IPL in Dubai on Thursday night.

Kishan smashed his way to an unbeaten 55 from 30 deliveries that was studded with four boundaries and three sixes, the sixth fifty of his IPL career, while Yadav made his 11th overall, a 38-ball 51 with six boundaries and two sixes as the four-time champions racked up 200 for 5 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Hardik Pandya smoked an unbeaten 14-ball 37 with five sixes as the Mumbai Indians fired 55 runs in the last three overs, without losing a wicket, and 78 in the last five overs. Kishan and Pandya’s unbroken stand was worth 60.

Delhi Capitals off-spinner R Ashwin returned with three for 29.

Earlier, Mumbai Indians had a bad start after being put into bat with their skipper and opener Rohit Sharma falling leg before to R Ashwin for nought.

But fellow opener Quinton de Kock and Suryakumar Yadav held firm and ensured they got maximum from the powerplay. The pair put the skates on as the Mumbai Indians got 63 runs in the six overs with de Kock smashing his way to a 21-ball 38 with the help of five boundaries and a six.

Yadav, meanwhile, was on 22 from 14 deliveries with three fours and a six. He and de Kock put together a fruitful partnership of 62 runs for the second wicket before de Kock became R Ashwin’s second victim.

The South African captain tried to step on it but slammed it down Shikhar Dhawan’s throat at long-off with the latter doing his trademark ‘thigh-five’ celebration.

Yadav went on to reach his half-century with a boundary off Anrich Nortje. He looked to be in good nick all along but in trying to force the tempo, he perished two balls later, top edging the South African pacer to Daniel Sams at long leg.

Keiron Pollard lasted just two balls before the towering West Indian fell for nought, with Kagiso Rabada taking a diving catch at long-on, off R Ashwin.

Krunal Pandya and Ishan Kishan then added 39 runs for the fifth wicket. After Krunal got out, caught by Sams off Marcus Stoinis, his brother Hardik and Kishan swelled Mumbai Indians’ total.

Brief scores:

Mumbai Indians: 200-5 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 55 not out, Suryakumar Yadav 51, Hardik Pandya 37 not out, Quinton de Kock 40, R Ashwin 3-29) vs Delhi Capitals.

Teams:

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (C), Quinton de Kock (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah.

Delhi Capitals: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer (C), Rishabh Pant (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Daniel Sams, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje.

james@khaleejtimes.com

• IPL 2024
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