Saffa heroics not enough for Delhi Daredevils

A 91 run partnership between Kagiso Rabada and Chris Morris was not enough to see the Delhi Daredevils home against the Mumbai Indians in the IPL.

The Delhi franchise found themselves in all sorts of trouble early on in their chase of the victory target of 143.

They slipped to 24 for 6 as the Indians seamers tore through their batting order with none of the top six getting into double figures.

A run out in the first over of a chase is never good but for the Mumbai Indians Hardik Pandya was brilliant running out Aditya Tare (0) with a direct hit from short extra-cover.

Mitchell McClenaghan then accounted for the Delhi Daredevils star of the season Sanju Samson (9) in the second over and Shreyas Iyer (6) and Corey Anderson (0) in the fourth over.

Jasprit Bumrah nipped out Risabh pant (00 in the sixth over before Pandya got Karun Nair (5) in the seventh and DD were 24 for 6 bringing together Rabada and Morris.

Earlier the Mumbai Indians struggled themselves relying on bit part displays from Jos Buttler (28), Kieron Pollard (26) and Hardik Pandya (24) with Amit Mishra’s 2 for 18 making him the pick of the bowlers.

MI would reach 142 for 8 in their 20 overs which looked light during the innings break but looked monstrous when DD slipped to 24 for 6.

Rabada (44) registered his highest ever T20 score in his first appearance for the Delhi Daredevils this season sharing a brilliant stand with Morris (52*) to keep their team in the game.

In the end they just couldn’t find the boundary often enough in the closing overs and Mumbai Indians held on for a 14 run win that tightens their grip on top spot on the IPL table.

Man of the match McClenaghan said after the contest: “Last match I went for 50 so it’s a roller coaster in T20, every game is a new game. We had certain plans for certain guys and everyone stuck to their guns today. Anderson has pumped me around the park so it was good to get him.”

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