Rohit Sharma. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
A splendid bowling performance from Piyush Chawla followed by a sensational batting display from the skipper Rohit Sharma helped Mumbai Indians edge past Delhi Capitals by six wickets in the 16th match of Indian Premier League 2023. With the victory, Mumbai Indians have opened their account this season, while the Capitals have lost four games in a row.
Rohit won the toss as Capitals got off to a brisk start in the powerplay. But Hrithik Shokeen drew the first blood for MI, as Prithvi Shaw departed after 10-ball 15 runs cameo. However, skipper David Warner and Manish Pandey kept the scoreboard ticking by adding valuable 41 runs for second wicket. Piyush Chawla and Riley Meredith chipped in with wickets in the middle overs as DC’s middle-order fell in quick succession and were left reeling at 98/5 in 12.3 overs.
However, in-form all-rounder Axar Patel. along with David Warner, led the fightback, adding 67 runs for sixth wicket. Patel raised to his maiden fifty in just 22 deliveries as Warner did the anchoring role, scoring 51 at a below par strike rate of 108.51. Jason Behrendorff took three wickets in the 19th over and Riley Meredith finished the proceedings as DC bundled out for 172.
Chasing 173, MI got off to a good start as Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan shared a 71-run opening partnership. While the latter got run-out for 31, skipper Rohit kept going as he brought up his first half-century in 25 IPL innings before getting dismissed for 65 off 45.
Tilak Varma racked up 41 off 29 while Suryakumar Yadav’s poor form continued as he bagged a golden duck. The match went right down to the wire with Tim David and Cameron Green remaining unbeaten on 13 and 17 respectively to seal the deal on the final delivery. Rohit grabbed the Player of the Match award for his captain’s knock
Meanwhile, here are some of the important stats and numbers from Match No. 16 between Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier league 2023:
2 – David Warner completed 600 fours in the IPL to become only the second player along with Shikhar Dhawan to achieve the feat.
2 – Warner has smashed seven fifty-plus scores against MI, the joint second highest for a batter against MI. KL Rahul tops the list with eight fifty-plus scores.
2 – Warner has smashed seven fifty-plus scores at Arun Jaitley Stadium in IPL, the joint second-highest for a batter. Shikhar Dhawan tops the list with eight fifties at the venue.
1 – Axar Patel registered hist maiden IPL fifty.
3 – Rohit Sharma registered his 42nd half-centiry scores in IPL. He has the third-most fifty-plus score for an Indian batter in IPL.
2 – Rohit has smashed six fifty-plus scores against DC, the joint second-highest for batter against them. Virat Kohli tops the list with eight half-centuries.
100 – Anrich Nortje appeared in 100 T20 matches .