The Delhi capitals beat the Mumbai Indians by four wickets to strengthen control in a top two spot in the IPL and leave the defending champions sweating for their chances of reaching the play-offs; Avesh Khan and Axar Patel star in Delhi with three plots each
Avesh Khan continued his good form with three wickets and Delhi strengthened his grip on the top two.
Delhi Capitals claimed a four-way victory over the Mumbai Indians in a low-scoring game in Sharjah to dent the defending champions’ hopes of advancing to the knockout stage of the Indian Premier League.
In a repeat of last year’s final, the Capitals reversed the result by chasing 130 with five balls to spare after a stellar bowling effort, led by Avesh Khan (3-15) and Axar Patel (3-21), restricted Mumbai to 129-8.
Delhi found itself in trouble at 30-3 and 93-6 in the chase, but former captain Shreyas Iyer kept his cool with a run-a-ball 33 no out and four needed for the final, Ravichandran Ashwin made sure that there would be no late drama throwing Krunal Pandya over the rope to seal victory.
The result consolidates the top two places in Delhi, already qualified, while Mumbai loses the opportunity to move to the top four and remain sixth, tied on points with Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings.
Having won the toss and chosen to pitch first, the Capitals got just the start they wanted when Avesh had Rohit Sharma (7) catch third man in the second over.
The runs weren’t easy to come by on another tired surface, but Quinton de Kock (19) and Suryakumar Yadav kept Mumbai going at a decent pace before the former was caught on the verge of Axar in the first out of game over of can.
Suryakumar (33 of 26) has struggled lately, but was starting to get going with a pair of sixes before throwing a full low pitch from Axar to long in the eleventh second.
That left Mumbai 68-3 and with a solid platform to launch from, but that lift-off never came as Axar represented Saurabh Tiwary (15) and Anrich Nortje (1-19) eliminated the dangerous Kieron Pollard (6) with a slower ball. that the right-hander could only drag on the stump of the leg.
Avesh returned to bowling with Hardik Pandya (17) with an impressive inswinging yorker that ripped through the off-roader’s legs before crashing into the stumps, and the closer then castled Nathan Coulter-Nile (1) before the over was over.
Ashwin’s last over (1-41) was expensive, but 130 were still below average.
However, when Shikhar Dhawan (8) ran off and Prithvi Shaw (6) was caught lbw by Krunal Pandya, Delhi was 15-2 in the third over. That became 30-3 at the start of the fifth when Steve Smith (9) was pitched by fellow Australian Coulter-Nile.
Rishabh Pant made a quick 26 to get Delhi moving again, but with the game delicately balanced, he tried a big shot too much and holed Jayant Yadav (1-31).
Axar was sent ahead of Shimron Hetmyer, but he made just nine before Trent Boult put him in lbw, and when Hetmyer arrived, his stay was only eight balls long. He had 15 runs in that time – useful runs, at that – but left with Delhi six down and still needing 37 in a game where the runs had barely flowed.
However, the pace required was extremely manageable and Iyer, who had been around since fifth, was more than happy to work on singles alongside Ashwin. With the help of a couple of timely limits, Delhi reached the last on the need for just four.
It may have only taken a point ball to start the round and increase the pressure on the Capitals, but Ashwin didn’t have time for that and threw the ball over the side of his leg to avoid any unnecessary drama and achieve victory. with style.
Watch another double IPL title on Sunday when Royal Challengers Bangalore take on the Punjab Kings starting at 10.50am. M. Before Kolkata Knight Riders take on Sunrisers Hyderabad starting at 2.50pm. M., All live on Sky Sports Cricket.
