In yet another high-scoring game in IPL 2024, Delhi Capitals held their nerve to usurp Mumbai Indians by 10 runs. The visitors finished with 247 in a chase of 258. Jake Fraser-McGurk (84 off 27 deliveries) once more sparkled with the willow and the bowlers chipped in with wickets at regular intervals. DC have won four of their last five games.
The Fraser-McGurk six-hitting exhibition
‘You bowl, I hit’. Fraser-McGurk seems to have taken that phrase very seriously. In the PowerPlay, his only mantra is to hit through the line every single delivery. In the first over itself, Luke Wood was smacked for three boundaries and a six. Even Jasprit Bumrah was welcomed with a hit over long-on. By the end of just three overs, the score was 55 for no loss. At the completion of PowerPlay overs, it was 92 for no loss.
By then, Fraser-McGurk was already on 78 off 24 deliveries. It just seemed like another day in the office for the young Australian cricketer. Ultimately, Piyush Chawla dismissed him, but the damage had already been done.
Tristan Stubbs, Shai Hope make valuable contributions
For a while, Chawla and Mohammed Nabi slowed down DC’s run-rate. Chawla even returned fine figures of 1 for 36 from four overs. However, Hope smacked five sixes in his knock of 41. Stubbs, lower down the order, also played a major role, essaying some cheeky scoops and reverse scoops off Wood. It was that particular over where Wood gave away 26 runs which changed the course of the game.
A special mention has to be made once more for Bumrah, who returned noteworthy figures of 1 for 35 from 4 overs. And he made a remarkable comeback after going for 18 in his opening over.
Rasikh Salam makes an impact
Rasikh, the Impact Sub, proved his worth by taking three wickets and giving away 34 runs. Mohammad Nabi, Nehal Wadhera and Hardik Pandya were his victims. When needed, the seamer ushered in a few low full tosses that hit the bat hard on impact. He also used the back of the hand slower one and short of length deliveries to keep the batters quiet. Simply put, he stuck to his limitations and reaped the rewards.
Hardik Pandya shows some form
Hardik, MI’s beleaguered skipper, batted with enough pluck and essayed a quick-fire hand of 46 off just 24 deliveries. Although Hardik didn’t always middle the ball, this innings would have boosted his confidence to some extent. The MI skipper had largely struggled both with the bat and ball before today’s game.
Nothing in it for the bowlers
Both teams crossed the 200-run mark, with 504 runs being aggregated in a single game. And MI came close to even crossing the target. In such harsh circumstances, you feel a bit of sympathy for the bowlers. Even their best deliveries are getting smacked for sixes.