The DJ at the Brabourne Stadium played ‘Delhi re, tu roar macha’ — Delhi Capitals’ theme song — as Lalit Yadav and Axar Patel forged a 75-run stand for the seventh wicket to guide their team to a four-wicket win against Mumbai Indians on Sunday.
After Ishan Kishan’s unbeaten 48-ball 81 guided Mumbai to 177 for five, Capitals were in a spot having lost three wickets for 32. And, as the required run rate sky-rocketed, Capitals’ chances looked bleak.
Turning the tables
With more than 70 runs to get in the last six overs and just four wickets remaining, the spectators did not imagine that Capitals would indeed roar. But Lalit and Axar had other plans.
With Jasprit Bumrah looking off-colour, Axar and Lalit raised 24 runs from Daniel Sam’s 18th over — three sixes and a four — which paved the way for victory, with 10 balls to spare.
Openers Tim Seifert and Prithvi Shaw gave Capitals a steady start, amassing 30 runs in just 3.3 overs, but Ashwin struck. His perfectly looped up googly rattled Seifert’s stumps, and two deliveries later, Mandeep Singh smacked a full toss straight to Tilak Varma at mid-on.
Then, slashing at a Tymal Mills short ball, captain Rishabh Pant top-edged to Tim David at third man.
With three wickets down, Shaw forged a 40-run stand with Lalit, but Thampi cut short his innings. As Shaw walked back, the Mumbai players’ celebrations indicated they were sensing victory.
Earlier, Ishan, who was roped in by Mumbai Indians for ₹15.25 crore, lived up to his price tag. Opening the innings with captain Rohit, Ishan ensured that Mumbai reached 65 for no loss in the first eight overs.
Breakthrough
However, seasoned spinner Kuldeep Yadav got Delhi its first breakthrough, removing Rohit with a short of good length delivery just outside off stump. Rohit went for the pull but ended up hitting to Rovman Powell at deep mid-wicket.
Anmolpreet Singh and Tilak Varma, too, were dismissed quickly, while a stunning catch by Seifert brought an end to Kieron Pollard’s innings. Despite the top batters returning to the dugout, Ishan ensured that the team amassed 55 runs in the last four overs.
But in the end, that wasn’t enough.
Scoreboard
Mumbai Indians Innings: Rohit Sharma c Powell b Kuldeep 41 Ishan Kishan not out 81 Anmolpreet Singh c Lalit Yadav b Kuldeep 8 Tilak Varma c Shaw b Ahmed 22 Kieron Pollard c Seifert b Kuldeep 3 Tim David c Mandeep b Ahmed 12 Daniel Sams not out 7 Extras: (LB-1 W-2) 3
Total: (For 5 wickets in 20 overs) 177
Fall of wickets: 1/67 2/83 3/117 4/122 5/159
Delhi Capitals bowling: Shardul Thakur 4-0-47-0, Khaleel Ahmed 4-0-27-2, Axar Patel 4-0-40-0, Kamlesh Nagarkoti 2-0-29-0, Kuldeep Yadav 4-0-18-3, Lalit Yadav 2-0-15-0.
Delhi Capitals Innings: Prithvi Shaw c Ishan Kishan b Basil Thampi 38 Tim Seifert b M Ashwin 21 Mandeep Singh c Tilak Varma b M Ashwin 0 Rishabh Pant c Tim David b Tymal Mills 1 Lalit Yadav not out 48 Rovman Powell c Daniel Sams b Basil Thampi 0 Shardul Thakur c Rohit b Basil Thampi 22 Axar Patel not out 38 Extras: (LB-4, W-7) 11
Total: (For 6 wkts, 18.2 Overs) 179
Fall of Wickets: 1-30, 2-30, 3-32, 4-72, 5-72, 6-104
Mumbai Indians bowling: Daniel Sams 4-0-57-0, Jasprit Bumrah 3.2-0-43-0, Basil Thampi 4-0-35-3, Murugan Ashwin 4-0-14-2, Tymal Mills 3-0-26-1.
