Agencies
Mumbai
Having lost the first three games, Mumbai Indians (MI) finally opened their account in IPL 2024 as they beat Delhi Capitals (DC) by 29 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Asked to bat first, MI set a target of 235 for DC asRohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan got 80 runs in seven overs. Delhi Capitals staged a comeback in the middle overs but Tim David (45* off 21) and Romario Shepherd (39* off 10) muscled 96 in the last five overs - Shepherd hit Anrich Nortje for 32 in the 20th over.
MI have never suffered a defeat in the IPL while defending a target of more than 200, and the final Anrich Nortje over in which Shepherd smoked 32 runs (four sixes and two fours) proved to be the difference.
Prithvi Shaw kept Capitals in the contest with 66 off 40 balls. After he got out, Tristan Stubbs took over and ransacked an unbeaten 71 off 25 balls. But that Nortje over proved to be the difference in the end as Capitals fell short by 29 runs.
Star of the day, Shepherd had earlier dismissed the dangerous David Warner to push the visitors against the wall.
Shaw’s innings ended at 66 in the 12th over, bowled by pace ace Jasprit Bumrah.
Porel’s dismissal in the 15th over – again by Bumrah – added to DC’s woes as they continued to hunt for a big over.
Tristan Stubbs then with his effortless strokes, tried to release the pressure off DC. He completed his fifty in a mere 19 deliveries. The 23-year-old Proteas batter shifted through gears as the required rate mounted up.
He found no support at the other end as he tried to wage a lone war. Another quick-paced knock was on the cards for skipper Pant, however, an unsual shot in Gerald Coetzee’s over ensured his trip to dugout back with a score of 1.
Stubbs struck three sixes in the 19th over to raise hopes of an unprecedented victory.
Coetzee, with composure, sealed off a 29-run win and MI’s first of the season.
Earlier, MI openers Rohit Sharma (49 off 27 balls; 6x4s, 3x6s) and Ishan Kishan (42 off 23 balls; 4x4s, 2x6s) provided the home team with a strong launch adding 80 runs.
Rohit made Ishant Sharma his target as he struck back-to-back fours. It marked the beginning of a flurry of boundaries from Rohit’s bat. He smoked the ball into the stand on successive deliveries in Jhye Richardson’s over, ensuring that runs kept coming in at a healthy rate.
Axar Patel was introduced in the attack and made an instant impact by dismissing Rohit for 49.
Nortje capitalised on the opportunity and spoiled Suryakumar Yadav’s much-awaited return by sending him back for a two-ball duck.
MI skipper Hardik Pandya avoided an early scare as he tried to pick up a single but was sent back to the striker’s end. He was well short but the fielder’s throw missed the stumps.
Kishan tried to keep MI’s up the run flow as he tonked a six in Nortje’s over. He showed his class again with a six over mid-wicket. By taking a one-handed stunner, it was the DC spinner who had the last laugh. Kishan had a look of disbelief while making his way to the dressing room.
Khaleel Ahmed then removed Tilak Varma for six runs caught at backward point.
Hardik and Tim David were wary in the next couple of overs before launching an onslaught on DC in the final four overs.
The power-hitting spectacle began with David picking up a four and then tonked the ball for a six. Hardik (39) tried to replicate David’s fireworks but only found Fraser-McGurk.
David set the tone with a six and a four in the 19th over.
Romario Shepherd went berserk in the final over as he smashed a boundary on each delivery of the final over.
After finding the fence on the first delivery, Shepherd showed his ruthless power by hitting three consecutive sixes off the first three deliveries, leaving Nortje clueless.
Another four and a six to end the innings powered MI to 234 for 5.
