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PICS: Mumbai Indians prove too good for Delhi Capitals

Last updated on: October 31, 2020 19:23 IST

Images from Saturday's IPL match between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians, in Dubai.

Mumbai Indians batsmen Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav celebrate victory over Delhi Capitals in the IPL match in Dubai on Saturday
IMAGE: Mumbai Indians batsmen Ishan Kishan, right, and Suryakumar Yadav celebrate victory over Delhi Capitals in the IPL match in Dubai on Saturday. Photograph: BCCI/IPL

Mumbai Indians produced a near-perfect display to beat Delhi Capitals by nine wickets and consolidate their position atop the Indian Premier League, in Dubai, on Saturday.

 

The defending champions, having already qualified for the play-offs, had things their way after electing to field as pacers Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah destroyed Delhi Capitals for a meagre 110 for 9.

Ishan Kishan during his unbeaten 72 of 47 balls

IMAGE: Ishan Kishan during his unbeaten 72 of 47 balls. Photograph: BCCI/IPL

In reply, openers Ishan Kishan (72 not out off 47 balls) and Quinton de kock (26 off 28) made the chase look simple as Delhi Capitals suffered their fourth straight defeat and remain third on the points table with 14 from 13 matches.

Mumbai Indians swelled their tally to 18 points after 13 outings and made sure of a top-two finish.

Anrich Nortje celebrates after dismissing Quinton de Kock

IMAGE: Anrich Nortje celebrates after dismissing Quinton de Kock. Photograph: BCCI/IPL

A target of 111 is an easy chase nine out of 10 times, and pocket dynamo Kishan and de Kock make it look like a walk in the park.

Kishan went all guns blazing, hammering three sixes and eight fours.

De Kock was out, trying to steer Anrich Nortje down to third man. The South African failed to connect and found his leg stump bail dislodged. He was out for 26.

Suryakumar Yadav (12 off 11) then chipped away at the runs for an easy victory.   

Trent Boult is congratulated by his Mumbai Indians teammates as he celebrates the wicket of Shikhar Dhawan

IMAGE: Trent Boult is congratulated by his Mumbai Indians teammates as he celebrates the wicket of Delhi Capitals opener Shikhar Dhawan. Photograph: BCCI/IPL

Earlier, brilliant fast bowling by Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah enabled Mumbai Indians restrict Delhi Capitals to 110 for 9.

The former dealt early blows while the Indian speed merchant broke middle-order as Delhi Capitals finished with a below par score.

Boult (3 for 21 in 4 overs) and Bumrah (3 for 17 in 4) not only accounted for six of the nine wickets, but also bowled 31 of the 62 dot balls consumed by the Delhi Capitals batsmen.

Jasprit Bumrah appeals successfully for leg before against Rishabh Pant

IMAGE: Jasprit Bumrah appeals successfully for leg before against Rishabh Pant. Photograph: BCCI/IPL

Not for once did Delhi Capitals look like being in control as they made the Dubai strip and the Mumbai Indians bowling attack look doubly menacing as some of the best batsmen abdicated their responsibilities of playing fearless cricket.

Wasting 10.2 overs on dot balls out of the possible 20 showed that Delhi batters' confidence hit the lowest ebb.

Boult was brilliant upfront, removing openers Shikhar Dhawan (0) and Prithvi Shaw (10 off 11 balls) in the powerplay to peg Delhi Capitals back.

Quinton de Kock attempts to stump Shreyas Iyer

IMAGE: Quinton de Kock stumps Shreyas Iyer. Photograph: BCCI/IPL

Skipper Shreyas Iyer (25 off 29 balls) and Rishabh Pant (21 off 24) then compounded their team's woes as they failed to regain the lost momentum.

The duo, for the umpteenth time, looked like playing for themselves and the intent was missing. It affected the morale of the batsmen coming down the order.

Quinton de Kock effected a 'MS Dhoniesque' stumping off Rahul Chahar to see Iyer's return, after which came Bumrah's devastating two-over spell.

Rahul Chahar celebrates after dismissing Shreyas Iyer.

IMAGE: Rahul Chahar celebrates after dismissing Shreyas Iyer. Photograph: BCCI/IPL

A ball pitched on length and climbing up while moving a shade away saw Marcus Stoinis edge it to the wicketkeeper.

Pant's misery ended when Bumrah came round the wicket and fired one from wide off the crease that came in with the angle to trap him leg before.

He then tormented Harshal Patel, who played and missed a few before being adjudged leg-before, a decision that couldn't be reviewed as Pant had consumed it during his dismissal.

Had Ravichandran Ashwin and Kagiso Rabada not hit a six each in their 10-run knocks at the fag end, Delhi Capitals may not have gone past the 100-run mark.