Mumbai : Rovman Powell (43) and Rishabh Pant (39) rescued Delhi Capitals with a 75-run partnership for the fifth wicket as the Capitals struggled to 159/7 in 20 overs at the Wankhede Stadium here on Saturday.
In a match that they have to win to qualify for the playoffs, Capitals were asked to bat first by Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma on a pitch that offered bounce to the seamers and turn to spinners.
The Mumbai Indians bowlers, especially Jasprit Bumrah made good use of the juice in the pitch and Delhi were soon struggling at 31/3 in the sixth over — Bumrah claiming two wickets, sending opener Prithvi Shaw with a vicious bouncer that the batter gloved to keeper Ishan Kishan while trying to take evasive action.
With Sarfaraz Khan (10) too back in the dugout Delhi were in despair at 50/4 in the 9th over when Pant and Powell came together and added 75 runs for the fifth wicket, taking Delhi to the relative safety at 124/4 when skipper Pant got off, nibbling at a Ramandeep Singh delivery that would have been called a wide. Pant scored 39 off 33 deliveries, hitting four boundaries and a six.
Powell missed his half-century by seven runs but his 34-ball knock during which he struck one four and four sixes — two off them off spinner Hrithik Shokeen off successive deliveries. He was out in the 19th over, yorked by Bumrah for his third victim.
Axar Patel hammered a 10-ball 19 which helped Delhi Capital reach 159/7.
Jasprit Bumrah was the most successful Mumbai Indians bowler, taking 3/25 while Ramandeep Singh claimed 2/29 off two overs.
Brief scores: Delhi Capitals 159/7 in 20 overs (Rishabh Pant 39, Rovman Powell 43, Axar Patel 19 not out; Jasprit Bumrah 3/25, Ramandeep Singh 2/29) against Mumbai Indians.
–IANS
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