Jack Fraser-McGurk smashed 87 off 27 to join an exclusive list of only three players to boast a 300+ strike-rate having faced 20 or more balls in an IPL innings as Delhi Capitals out-hit Mumbai Indians in yet another game with a match aggregate in excess of 500 runs. Delhi Capitals smashed 257 but needed an excellent bowling display from Rasikh Dar (3 for 34) to squeeze home by 10 runs. Having lost four of their first five games, Delhi Capitals have now won four of their last five to put themselves back in Playoffs contention.
Where was the game won?
As ever, in the PowerPlay. Delhi Capitals hit 92/0 while Mumbai Indians managed only 65/3 and left themselves needing too much to get in the back half of their chase.
- DC MI
Score 92/0 65/3
Run-Rate 15.33 10.83
4s/6s 12/5 8/2
Delhi Capitals
PowerPlay: Fraser-McGurk spares no one, not even Bumrah
DC 92/0 [RR: 15.33, 4s/6s: 12/5]
If you squinted until colours aren’t easily discernible, you could be excused for mistaking the start of this game to be a highlights reel of some other games you’ve already seen this season. On this sultry afternoon, it was Fraser-McGurk bringing all the heat to the Mumbai bowlers. The first three balls of the innings, bowled by Luke Wood, went for 4, 4 and 6 and the 19-run over set the tone for the rest of the PowerPlay. Even Jasprit Bumrah wasn’t spared by the 22-year-old, who welcomed the star pacer with a six and handed him an 18-run over – Bumrah’s most expensive this season.
It was fuss-free batting from the Australian, who stood still at the crease, cleared his front-foot and swung through the line. He equalled his own record for the fastest 50 of the season – 15 balls – and made 78 off 24 balls [11×4, 5×6] in the first five overs. It seemed like his new opening partner, Abhishek Porel, was playing a different game, crawling to 11 off 13 after managing only three runs from Bumrah’s second over.
Middle Overs: Spinners strike but Hope helps DC keep pace
DC 98/3 [RR: 10.88, 4s/6s: 4/8]
Fraser-McGurk fell attempting to slog Piyush Chawla to the longer boundary for a 27-ball 84. Porel fell soon after for a steady 36 in the middle of a lull in the proceedings with overs 8-10 bringing only 15 runs. At the point, it seemed as if DC had erred in sending out Shai Hope at No.3. All that changed in the 11th over when he slogged Chawla for a six. Two more came in the next over bowled by Mohammad Nabi. Hope added two more sixes off Wood before falling in the 14th over after an excellent momentum maintaining 17-ball 41.
Death Overs: Stubbs takes Wood apart
DC 67/1 [RR: 13.4, 4s/6s: 6/4]
The final overs of DC’s innings brought 67 runs. Twenty-six of them came in the 18th over bowled by Luke Wood with Tristan Stubbs hitting each delivery for a four or a six. The highlight of Stubbs’ assault was his ability to exploit the field – third-man and fine-leg up – by walking across and scooping or reverse-scooping full-length deliveries. The former MI batter finished with 48* off 25. Amid all the carnage, Bumrah finished with 1 for 35 from his four overs, giving away just 17 runs from his final three overs.
Mumbai Indians
PowerPlay: Three down with the pitch playing slight tricks
MI 65/3 [RR: 10.83, 4s/6s: 8/2]
Mumbai Indians scored 65 in the PowerPlay and it seemed like the chasm between the sides in this contest had widened. For starters, the pitch began holding up as had been anticipated by Rishabh Pant. The pace off deliveries too had an effect. Rohit Sharma was hurried by Lizaad Williams and the lost his shape attempting a heave against Khaleel Ahmed. Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav began well but fell to catches in the circle. Khaleel’s dismissal of Suryakumar off the last ball of the PowerPlay, gave him 2 for 34 from three overs and left the visitors playing catch-up.
Middle Overs: Tilak, Hardik take down spin
MI 108/2 [RR: 12, 4s/6s: 8/7]
Five overs of spin through overs 7-15 brought Mumbai Indians 71 runs in this phase. Hardik Pandya set the tone early when he hit Kuldeep Yadav for three fours and a six, using the sweep shot to good effect. Tilak Varma then made most of his match to hit Axar Patel for a six and a four. With the season’s best spin pair taken down, Rishabh Pant turned back to pace and Rasikh Dar helped break the stand in the 13th over but not before Hardik hit 46 off 24 in a stand of 71 (39). Dar also dismissed Nehal Wadhera in the over but Tilak plundered 21 off Kuldeep to keep MI just about afloat in the chase. They needed 83 to win from the final five.
Death Overs: Impressive Rasikh Dar keeps MI at bay
MI 74/4 [RR: 14.8, 4s/6s: 4/6]
The death overs began with Tilak and Tim David picking 14 off a Lizaad Williams over, the former completing a 25-ball 50 along the way. Rasikh Dar, another former MI player, then produced the defining over of the game to give away just 7 bowling a string of full-length deliveries or low full-tosses that were hard to put away. MI got 23 off the next over from Mukesh Kumar but lost Tim David after the Australia batter plundered two sixes and a four before wearing a full toss on his pads. Rasikh dismissed Mohammad Nabi in his final over to finish with outstanding figures of 3 for 34 and even though MI kept hitting through until the final over, his spell ensured they fell just short.
Brief scores: Delhi Capitals 257/4 in 20 overs (Jake Fraser-McGurk 84, Tristan Stubbs 48*; Jasprit Bumrah 1-35) beat Mumbai Indians 247/9 in 20 overs (Tilak Varma 63, Hardik Pandya 46; Rasikh Dar 3-34) by 10 runs
What next for the teams: Mumbai Indians continue on the road and will play LSG on Tuesday. Delhi Capitals have a shorter turnaround and will play KKR at the Eden Gardens on Monday.
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