3-time champions Mumbai knocked out of IPL
Delhi knock defending champs Mumbai Indians out
New Delhi, May 20: Wooden spooners Delhi Daredevils knocked defending champions Mumbai Indians out of the Indian Premier League after the trio of Sandeep Lamichhane, Amit Mishra and Harshal Patel starred with three wickets apiece for a 11-run win in their last league match here on Sunday.
Set a target of 175, Mumbai Indians crumbled against quality leg-spin bowling by Sandeep (3/36), Amit Mishra (3/19) and medium pace of Patel (3/28). The visitors lost three wickets — Evin Lewis (48), Kieron Pollard (7) and Krunal Pandya (4) — in five balls at the Feroz Shah Kotla. Hardik Pandya (27) and skipper Rohit Sharma (13) added 43 runs before they were sent back as Mumbai slipped to 122 for seven in 14.5 overs.
Ben Cutting tried his hand with a 19-ball 37 before MI were dismissed for 163 in 19.3 overs. Mumbai's ouster makes the final league match between Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab interesting as the latter will not only have to win the contest but also better the net run rate of Rajasthan Royals (-0.250).
Earlier, Rishab Pant (64) continued his purple patch, hitting his fifth halfcentury of the season, to guide Delhi to a competitive score. The 20-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman shared a 64-run fourth wicket stand off 47 balls with Vijay Shankar (43 not out) to lay the foundation. Lamichhane then rocked Mumbai's chase early, removing the in-form Suryakumar Yadav (4) cheaply.
However, Evin Lewis (48) exploded in the fourth over, hitting Patel for two fours and a six. He treated Glenn Maxwell with equal disdain, clearing the ropes twice, as MI zoomed to 50 for one in five overs. Ishan Kishan (5) was then caught at long-on off Amit Mishra.
The leg-spinner was unlucky not to have the wicket of Kirton Pollard who was dropped by Prithvi Shaw off his bowling. The West Indian got another respite when an airborne Abhishek Sharma failed to held on to a catch off Liam Plunkett.
Mishra then dismissed Lewis with a googly, which the opener failed to read and was stumped by Pant. Mumbai were reduced to 74 for four when Maxwell and trent Boult combined to pull off a sensational catch at the boundary line off Lamichhane's bowling.
Krunal Pandya was next to go when his weak drive found the hands of substitute Rahul Tewatia at short cover, as Mumbai were looking down the barrel at 79 for five in 9.4 overs.