"Third Man" A Match Review by Kannan
Match: IPL 2020 finals between Mumbai Finals Vs Delhi Capitals, 10th November, Dubai
2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 , is this Mumbai Indians can win the titles only in odd years? Will law of averages play spoilsport to the MI's go at back to back titles? Will Rohit depart early to give a sniff for Rabada and co to pull a miraculous win to bag the title? The answer seems to be no going by the events on 10th of November at Dubai where Mumbai put up a splendid show with the ball and backed it by audacity with the bat to make it a " no contest" against the first time finalist Delhi Capitals - to clinch their 5th IPL title and first time winning it for consecutive years, matching the feat of the super kings at their prime, and making a name for themself as one of best T20 sides going across the globe.
The commanding 5-wkt win was brilliantly set up by the bowlers striking from ball one, restricting Delhi to an below par total of 156/7 followed by a authoritative batting display, led by the skipper Rohit, to clinch the game in 18.4 overs without giving a sense of hope to the capitals - who were no match either in paper or the performances on the park.
Earlier, they used to define IPL as the tournament where 7 teams will be fighting to meet CSK in the finals. Now, Mumbai is making the trophy their own - 7 Teams fighting to lose to Mumbai in the finals.
Toss and playing 11:
DC won and elected to bat with no changes in playing XI from the earlier game. Mumbai had one surprise change by bringing in the off spinning all rounder Jayant in place of the leggie Rahul chahar.
Boult Jolts DC yet again, Jayant cleans up the big fish Dhawan, 22/3 by 4 overs:
What a fantastic series Trent "Tremendous" Boult is having with the ball, especially winning the battle in the power play striking in the 1st over 8 times this season - 4 times against as many matches against the finalist DC, and setting up games for his team. This time even better by striking in the 1st ball of the match, sending the dangerous Stoinis with the one that went away with the angle, and not allowing to tick off the opening partnership which was needed for the capitals to post a challenging total. Rahane left early when he glanced one to the De Cock in 3 rd over.
Delhi traded off Boult to Mumbai Indians last season and paying a heavy price surrendering to the man who should be bowling for them. He has snatched the finals from his former "home" team in a space of just 10 balls.
It was a tactical move to include off spinner Jayant in the XI, perhaps to counter the left handers in the Delhi line up, and bringing him on inside the power play against Dhawan was a master stroke - Jayant bowled a flighted looping off spinner which gripped and turned,inviting Dhawan to go for the sweep, only to see his stumps rearranged landing a huge blow to the hopes of the Capitals.
"Pant"astic Pant and Skipper Shreyas fights back:
It was refreshing to see the approach of the DC by not buckling down under pressure after the early wickets - rather, the pair of Shreyas and the talented, but under performing Pant, met fire with fire by taking on the Mumbai bowlers by striking beautifully and rotating the strike with ease. Shreyas, who lost his touch mid-way through the tournament, found his range at the perfect stage with the company of the aggressive Rishabh Pant, who came out all guns blazing hitting his favourite shots through and behind square leg and clearing the infield with ease. The duo put on a 96 run Partnership for the 4th wicket and setting up things nicely for the onslaught at the death, when Pant (58 of 36) got decieved by the slower one from the death over specialist Courter-Nile and holed out to long on.
Shreyas register half century, Mumbai conquers the Death:
Shreyas continued to fight back but Mumbai bowlers, led by Courter Nile at the back end, pegs back things by picking up wickets and not allowing the DC lower middle order to break free - Shreyas remained unbeaten on 65* but Mumbai were the happier team at the end restricting the opponents to a underwhelming 156
Rohit and De Cock conquers Power play with "power hitting"
Rabada and co needed to snap early wickets to have the outcome in their favour, but the seasoned MI Skipper Rohit and the dasher De Cock were in a punishing mood - Rohit welcoming R Ashwin, who opened the bowling, with a six and De Cock targetting fellow South African Rabada for 18 runs in his 1st over. At 45 for 1 in 4.1 overs when De Cock fell to Stoinis, the match and momentum was already drifted towards the defending champions."
Hit"Man's Half century , Ishan's cameo carries Mumbai closer to a convincing win:
Rohit, who had a silent tournament so far due to loss of form and injury, looked at his best by going after the bowling from the word go by playing his trademark cuts, pulls and effortless sixes over the leg side of the fast bowlers. There was no respite for the man with the purple cap Rabada or the fast and furious Nortje as they were dispatched nonchalantly for maximum over the deep mid wicket boundary. The young spinner Dube had a forgettable outing being hit over long on and long off for huge sixes from the willow of the charismatic captain.
The 2nd wicket partnership with Surya kumar was brief and entertaining before it ended in a miscommunication while running and Surya kumar, though batted remarkably this season, showed what a splendid team man he was by sacrificing his wicket to the in-form skipper.
It was now the turn of the "super striker" Ishan , with the maximum (30 sixes) sixes in this IPL, to join the party with the captain and he didn't disappoint by showing his range of shots, powerful hitting and back foot play especially driving and cutting through the off-side.
Rohit, playing in his 200th IPL match, constructed a brilliant 50 of just 36 balls in the match that mattered the most, silencing his critics, detractors and proving a point to the Sunil Joshi led (Virat Kohli influenced??) selection committee who had doubts over his form and fitness by ignoring him for the limited over leg of the upcoming Australian tour. When his match winning innings of 68 ended through a spectacular catch by the substitute fielder, the game was almost sealed and DC was just going through the motions.
Delhi bowlers managed to dismiss pollard and Pandya cheaply, but MI were just a hit away for victory and Krunal becomes the luckiest to get the winning runs, taking Mumbai across the line to be crowned as the Champions for the 5th time, much to the delight of the dug out and the fans across India.
Krunal Pandya dugs out the Yorker from Nortje for the most "valuable single"of this Dream 11 IPL 2020, the dressing room erupts in joy!! Ecastic Rohit Sharma! Celebrations and handshakes with gloves on! All the doubts, uncertainty at the start of the tournament is now a thing of the past.. From bio bubble to nail biting finishes, double super over, centuries, spectacular fielding displays, and the last league match deciding the teams for the play - offs..It was an Incredible Premier League all the way!!
" Mumbai on top of the world for the 5th time, curtains down for IPL 2020"
Yours Truly,
Kannan
Very well narrated. Enjoyed reading.
ReplyDelete