Mumbai: Romario Shepherd and Tim David's late-onslaught powered Mumbai Indians to their first victory in a day-night match of IPL 2024 at Wankhede Stadium here on Sunday.
Mumbai pummeled Delhi with a commanding 29-run win over Delhi Capitals after they had lost their first three matches of the season.
Mumbai's triumph was fueled by a stellar batting performance, which saw them post a formidable total of 234 runs. In response, Delhi's batsmen put up a valiant effort but fell short, with Mumbai's Jasprit Bumrah playing a crucial role in securing the win with his accurate bowling.
Mumbai's innings showcased a tale of two halves, both anchored by significant contributions from their captain. The opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan provided a blazing start, forging an 80-run partnership in just 42 balls. Rohit displayed his prowess with two sixes off Jhye Richardson, while Kishan contributed a brisk 42 off 23 deliveries.
However, DC clawed their way back into the game thanks to an impressive spell by Axar Patel, who dismissed Rohit for 49 and put a dent in Mumbai's momentum.
Suryakumar Yadav's early dismissal further compounded Mumbai's woes, but Hardik Pandya and Tim David steadied the ship with a crucial partnership. Pandya's 39 off 33 balls laid the groundwork for David to unleash his aggressive strokes, propelling Mumbai past the 200-run mark.
In the final over, Romario Shepherd's explosive batting blitz added crucial runs to Mumbai's total, ultimately setting a daunting target of 234 for Delhi to chase down.
Chasing the mammoth total, Delhi's Prithvi Shaw provided a glimmer of hope with a stellar half-century, but Bumrah's yorker to dismiss him for 66 turned the tide in Mumbai's favor. Despite a spirited effort from Tristan Stubbs, who smashed a blistering 71 off just 25 balls, Delhi struggled to maintain the required run rate.
Mumbai's bowlers, particularly Gerald Coetzee and the standout performer Bumrah, kept the pressure on Delhi throughout the innings. Coetzee's four-wicket haul and Bumrah's economical spell of 2 for 22 played pivotal roles in restricting Delhi to 204 runs, securing Mumbai's first victory in this year's IPL.
Brief scores: Mumbai Indians 234/5 in 20 overs (Rohit Sharma 49, Tim David 45*, Ishan Kishan 42, Romario Shepherd 39*; Axar Patel 2-35) beat Delhi Capitals 205/8 in 20 overs (Tristan Stubbs 71*, Prithvi Shaw 66; Gerald Coetzee 4-34, Jasprit Bumrah 2-22) by 29 runs.
