Lalit Yadav and Axar Patel put on a stellar show as Delhi Capitals (DC) stunned Mumbai Indians (MI) in a spectacular run chase at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai. Rohit Sharma’s fast bowlers including death overs specialist Jasprit Bumrah could not do the usual damage as Capitals chased down the total in the penultimate over to get off to a winning start. On the other hand, MI continued their old habit of losing the first match of the season.
Ashwin gets early wickets
Chasing a total of 178, Capitals got off to a flier with Tim Seifert firing on all cylinders. Seifert scored 21 runs from 14 deliveries before he was outclassed by Murugan Ashwin's googly. Ashwin struck again in the fourth over to remove Mandeep Singh for a two-ball duck. Two balls later, skipper Rishabh Pant got out trying to hit Tymal Mills, leaving his team in deep trouble in powerplay overs.
Thampi stops Shaw
Prithvi Shaw continued the onslaught from the other end and did not let the required run rate get out of hand. In the 10th over, Basil Thampi derailed Capitals' run chase with wickets of Shaw and debutant Rovman Powell. While Shaw scored 38 runs off 24 deliveries, Powell got out for a two-ball duck.
Perfect onslaught
With Capitals reduced to 72/5 in the 10th over, Lalit tried to rebuild the innings with Shardul Thakur playing a cameo at the other end. Thakur scored 22 runs off 11 deliveries before getting out to Thampi. Axar took a few deliveries and did not let the scoreboard pressure get to them. After Ashwin completed his quota of four overs, the duo targetted Daniel Sams and Thampi. Even an out-of-touch Bumrah was not spared and was hit for boundaries.
The two batters hit 75 runs in five overs and won the game with 10 balls to spare. Lalit remained unbeaten for 48 off 38 deliveries including four fours and two sixes. All-rounder Axar showcased phenomenal hitting as he hit three sixes and two fours in his unbeaten 17-ball 38. Ashwin turned out to be the most economical bowler, conceding 14 runs in his four overs whereas Sams conceded as many as 57 runs.
Kuldeep gets his mojo back
Earlier Pant won the toss and elected to field first. MI got off to a good start as openers Rohit and Ishan Kishan shared a 67-run opening stand. Rohit was heading towards half-century when Kuldeep Yadav provided the much-needed breakthrough. The skipper scored 41 runs off 32 deliveries including four fours and two sixes. Kuldeep struck again when he got the wicket of Anmolpreet Singh. On debut, Tilak Varma impressed with his 15-ball 22 but lost his wicket to Khaleel Ahmed just before the death overs. Veteran Kieron Pollard did not make a difference as he became chinaman Kuldeep's third victim of the day.
Kishan finishes in style
Meanwhile, Kishan started accelerating from the other end. He got to his half-century in the 17th over and then continued to pile on runs. Tim David and Daniel Sams contributed with useful mini-cameos to help MI post 177/5. Kishan remained not out for 81 off 48 deliveries including 11 fours and two sixes. For Capitals, Kuldeep stole the show as he conceded just 18 runs from his quota of four overs including three wickets. Left-arm fast bowler Khaleed was impressive too as he conceded 27 runs and picked up a couple of wickets. On the other hand, Thakur, Patel and Kamlesh Nagarkoti were expensive.
