Tim David and Romario Shepherd’s carnage in the last four overs helped Mumbai Indians kick start the Marathi New Year celebrations two days in advance by opening its account in Indian Premier League 2024.
Riding on David and Shepherd’s cameos, Mumbai Indians ensured Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan’s panache in the PowerPlay was converted into a gargantuan total of 234 for five after being put in by Rishabh Pant at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.
Despite Prithvi Shaw’s and Tristan Stubbs’ swashbuckling knocks, the Capitals finished its essay at 205 for eight, falling short by 29 runs. The difference, in the end, turned out to be the last over of both the innings.
Shepherd, who took guard with 13 balls remaining, hammered Anrich Nortje for four towering sixes and two fours to amass 32 runs off the last over. More than one that went out of the stadium through deep square-leg, it was his slash over covers into the stands that resulted in the full house going berserk.
Thanks to Shepherd’s onslaught, Nortje’s Protean counterpart Gerald Coetzee had the cushion of defending 33 runs in the last over. He picked up three wickets for four runs, beginning a lap of honour to acknowledge 18,000 schoolkids who had been invited to watch the game.
Earlier in the afternoon, Rohit and Kishan made the most of the PowerPlay, with MI racing to 75 for no loss. Capitals employed five bowlers in the first six overs but none of them could stop the duo’s onslaught. Rohit’s successive pick-up shorts from outside off stump that landed in the stands over square leg off Jhye Richardson were marvellous.
Axar Patel finally broke the partnership, fooling Rohit in length with a quicker one to crash into the stumps.
The wily spinner then took a sensational return catch to see Ishan’s back as well. Capitals kept Hardik Pandya, promoted to No. 4, in check as MI was placed at 150 for four in 16 overs.
David then started the carnage with Shepherd joining in to help Mumbai Indians slaughter the last four overs for 84 runs and take the game away from Capitals.
Scoreboard
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma b Axar 49 Ishan Kishan c&b Axar 42 Suryakumar Yadav c sub b Nortje 0 Hardik Pandya c sub b Nortje 39 Tilak Varma c Axar b Ahmed 6 Tim David (not out) 45 Romario Shepherd (not out) 39
Extras: (NB-1, W-13) 14
Total: (for 5 wickets, 20 overs) 234
Fall of wickets: 1-80, 2-81, 3-111, 4-121, 5-181.
Bowling: Khaleel Ahmed 4-0-39-1, Ishant Sharma 3-0-40-0, Jhye Richardson 4-0-40-0, Axar Patel 4-0-35-2, Lalit Yadav 1-0-15-0, Anrich Nortje 4-0-65-2.
Delhi Capitals: Prithvi Shaw b Bumrah 66 David Warner c Pandya b Shepherd 10 Abhishek Porel c David b Bumrah 41 Tristan Stubbs (not out) 71 Rishabh Pant c Pandya b Coetzee 1 Axar Patel (run out) 8 Lalit Yadav c Kishan b Coetzee 3 Kumar Kushagra c Varma b Coetzee 0 Jhye Richardson c Sharma b Coetzee 2
Extras: (LB-1, NB-1, W-1) 3
Total: (8 wickets, 20 overs) 205
Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-110, 3-144, 4-153, 5-194, 6-203, 7-203, 8-205.
Bowling: Gerald Coetzee 4-0-34-4, Jasprit Bumrah 4-0-22-2, Akash Madhwal 4-0-45-0, Romario Shepherd 4-0-54-1, Mohammad Nabi 2-0-17-0, Piyush Chawla 2-0-32-0.
