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Mumbai Indians have played a dominant cricket this season and have looked a touch above the rest. The point table at end of league stage reflected the same. Coming into the first qualifier, the only concern they would have had was the loss of momentum after last match’s heavy loss at the hands of Sunrisers. However all those concerns were put to rest as the rested players- Hardik, Boult and Bumrah- proved the management’s decision right by stellar performances as they looked fresh and ready for the contest. MI put on a complete game and had an upper hand throughout the game barring a few overs in the middle. Delhi Capitals, whose players have shown a sudden dip in form lately continued the same in this match too as they suffered the massive 57 run defeat.

MI start with aggressive intent

Shreyas Iyer won the toss and asked MI to set the target for them as he reckoned it would get easier to bat later on. Quinton de Kock made his intentions clear from the first ball when he drove Sams straight down the ground and followed it with two more 4s later in the over. Iyer brought spin quite early and it paid off immediately as Ashwin pinned Rohit in front of stumps for a duck. This early fall of wicket did not deter Quinton or Surya Kumar Yadav from playing their shots as they continued with their aggressive intent. 63 runs were scored in the powerplay. It was Ashwin again who broke the 62 run partnership as de Kock could not time his loft over long on and was caught by Dhawan at the boundary. He scored 40 off 25 balls with 5 boundaries and a six.

Kishan-Hardik whirlwind partnership

Surya with an elegant drive through mid wicket off Nortje brought his 36-ball fifty and team’s hundred too. However two balls later he could not control his hook and was caught at deep fine leg. Pollard was promoted up the order but he was sent back by Ashwin without any contribution to MI’s score. Kishan and Krunal played some quiet overs and it seemed that Delhi had got the hold of the match but it was only the silence before storm.

It started with 32 runs in two overs of Delhi’s two main bowlers Rabada and Nortje.Then introduction of Stoinis for the first time put a momentary brake as he got Krunal out, but out came the younger Pandya as what followed was absolute carnage with flurry of sixes from both ends. In the 23-ball 60 run partnership between Kishan and Hardik, Hardik hit 5 sixes. Kishan got to his fifty off the last ball as he hit Nortje for a six over covers. Mumbai set a target of 201 for Delhi on the back of relentless hitting throughout the innings.

Horrid start by DC

Chasing a massive target, Delhi Capitals were off to a worst possible start as they lost three wickets without opening their accounts. Boult accounted for Shaw and Iyer in the first over- Iyer caught behind off a cutter that went across his while Rahane was lbw of an inswinger. Bumrah from the other end produced an even better delivery, an inswinging yorker that cleaned up Dhawan. Iyer scored three cracking boundaries before an uppish drive went straight to Rohit at short covers. Pant, struggling with his form, especially since his comeback from the injury, again could not contribute much and was caught at long on off Krunal for just 3.

Stoinis-Axar effort in vain

With half the side back in the pavilion in the eighth over itself and only 41 on the board, very little hope was left for Delhi. Stoinis and Axar forged a nice 44-ball 71 run partnership but it was not enough for the day. Stoinis reached his fifty off 36 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes. Rohit brought back Bumrah to break the Stoinis-Axar stand and he delivered the very first ball. A good length ball that seamed away a bit disturbed the timber and sent Stoinis back for a well made 65. Thereafter only formalities were left in the game as DC scored an eventual 143/8 in 20 overs handing Mumbai Indians a 57-run victory and the place in the finals.

Bumrah, for his figures of 4/14, was adjudged Man of the Match. Delhi will now play the winner of Eliminator amongst Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Banglore, to get a second chance at entering the finals.

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