Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians defeated Rishabh Pant's Delhi Capitals by 29 runs at the Wankhede Stadium to secure their first win of the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, on April 7 (Sunday). The 32 runs Romario Shepherd provided in the final over against Anrich Nortje proved to be a match-winner.
Delhi Capitals won the toss and elected to bowl first. However, the decision backfired as Mumbai Indians posted 234/5 in 20 overs. Delhi Capitals tried their best but could not reach to the massive target. MI restricted the visitors on 205/8 and earned their first win of the season.
Romaria Shepherd smashes 32 runs in one over
Mumbai Indians appeared in a totally different touch as despite losing the toss the MI openers, Rohit Sharma (49 runs off 27 balls) and Ishan Kishan (42 off 23 balls) took the attacking approach and targetted the Delhi bowlers. First, it was Rohit who opened the floodgates of runs before Axar Patel bowled him to provide the visitors with their first breakthrough. Mumbai was just dealing with Rohit's departure when Nortje dismissed Surya on a two-ball duck.
Ishan Kishan tried to take charge for a while before Axar again provided his team with a crucial breakthrough. The flow of runs got a slow in the 9 overs after the powerplay as MI could only put together 63 runs and lost four wickets. However, the tides once again changed in the final five overs as Mumbai smashed 96 runs in them.
Tim David and Romario Shepherd joined a blazing 53-run partnership and helped Mumbai Indians post a massive total of 234 runs at the loss of five wickets. However, the real highlight of the match was Romario Shepherd smashing 32 runs in the final over against Anrich Nortje. It was that over that provided Mumbai with a match-winning lead against Delhi Capitals.
Tristan Stubbs' fifty in vain
Delhi Capitals fell short of 29 runs in the chase but would be happy with the performance of young Proteas heavy-hitter Tristan Stubbs who brought them really close to the win. There was a time in the game, when even MI faces were tensed despite having 234 on the board.
Tristan Stubbs played an unbeaten and blazing knock of 71 runs off just 25 balls. The Proteas batter completed his half-century in just 19 balls and almost turned the table on the hosts. With this win, MI have jumped over RCB and Delhi Capitals to become the number 8 ranked team. On the other hand, Delhi Capitals are now at the bottom of the points table.
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