Mumbai succumb to fourth defeat; all-rounder Krunal Pandya attributes loss to brilliant death bowling by hosts Daredevils
Delhi Daredevils' leg-spinner Amit Mishra celebrates a Mumbai Indians wicket with his teammate Chris Morris at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Saturday.
New Delhi: Mumbai Indians’ young all-rounder Krunal Pandya attributed Saturday’s 10-run loss to Delhi Daredevils to superlative bowling in the death overs by the hosts in an Indian Premier League match at Feroz Shah Kotla.
Delhi Daredevils' leg-spinner Amit Mishra celebrates a Mumbai Indians wicket with his teammate Chris Morris at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Saturday. Pics/AFP
While Delhi Daredevils scored 80 runs in the last eight overs, Mumbai Indians could manage only 56.
Defending 164-4, thanks to Sanju Samson’s 60 and JP Duminy’s unbeaten 49, Daredevils dished out a disciplined bowling and fielding display to restrict Mumbai Indians to 154 for seven and register their third win on the trot. Veteran Amit Mishra proved why he is regarded as the best leg-spinner in the country by returning with figures of 4-0-24-2, which included important wickets of Ambati Rayudu and Jos Buttler.
Turning point? MI skipper Rohit Sharma falls after colliding with teammate Hardik Pandya while going for the second run. Rohit’s run out on 65 thwarted Mumbai Indians’ chase in the final over in which they required 21 runs to win against Delhi Daredevils
“We backed ourselves to win because we have a good batting line-up, but they bowled really well at the death. They executed their yorkers to perfection,” said Krunal, who smashed a quickfire 36 off 17 balls.
Mumbai lost Parthiv Patel early but skipper Rohit Sharma (64 off 47 balls) and Ambati Rayudu (25 off 23) added 53 runs for the second wicket to steady the innings.
Mishra makes it count
While Rayudu played an aggressive knock, Rohit’s was an uncharacteristic innings as he preferred to play second fiddle.
Rayudu cracked four boundaries before he was cleaned up by a flighted googly from Mishra in the ninth over.
Krunal used the long handle to great effect before he was caught short off the crease at the non-striker’s end by a direct hit from Daredevils skipper Zaheer Khan off his own bowling.
The way Krunal was going at one stage it looked Mumbai would finish off the match in quick time, but his run out and Mishra’s brilliant spell in the middle overs turned things in Daredevils favour.
“I was batting really well, but it was totally my mistake. There was no run in it. It was unnecessary,” lamented Krunal.
With Mumbai Indians needing 47 off the last four overs for a win, all hopes of the visitors were on the shoulders of their skipper Rohit and Kieron Pollard.
Rohit and Pollard then brought down the equation to 32 off the last two overs. But it was not to be Mumbai’s day as Pollard departed when he miscued one to give a simple catch to Chris Morris at sweeper cover.
Needing 21 off the last over, Rohit brought down the equation with a six off the second ball from Morris, but he fell victim of an unnecessary mix up with Hardik Pandya in the very next ball while going for the second run.
Duminy lauds bowlers
Thereafter, victory was a mere formality for Delhi and they wrapped up the match in style without any fuss.
Delhi’s Duminy too lauded their death bowling. “I think with five overs to go, the game was still in the balance. Especially, on this ground you back the batting side to get over the line. But our bowlers bowled exceptionally in the death overs,” Duminy said.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
