IPL 2020 Qualifier 1: MI vs DC Review – Clinical MI march into sixth final

Defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) have made it to their sixth IPL final with a brilliant 60-run win over the Delhi Capitals (DC) in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2020. It was a clinical performance from MI who have time and again proved their mettle on the biggest stage.

After being invited to bat first, MI lost Rohit Sharma for a golden duck. Quinton de Kock and Suryakumar Yadav then added 62 runs for the 2nd wicket. The former scored 40 while Surya continued his good form to smash a half-century. Ravichandran Ashwin’s sensational spell left them reeling at 101/4 in the 13th over. But Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya had other ideas and the duo ripped apart the Delhi bowling attack at the death. From nowhere, MI added 55 runs in the last three overs to touch the 200-run mark in their 20 overs.

Once they conceded too many runs at the death, it was a mountain to climb for Delhi with the bat. Moreover, they were struggling at 3/0 in 1.2 overs thanks to Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult’s new-ball heroics. And the Shreyas Iyer-led side could never come back in the game. Marcus Stoinis (65) and Axar Patel (42) fought hard but they only delayed the inevitable as DC could only score 142 runs in their 20 overs.

Turning Points

Kishan-Hardik partnership: Kishan was struggling to get going when Hardik Pandya arrived in the middle in the 17th over. But then the latter’s aggression rubbed off Kishan’s shoulders as well. They took on the two best bowlers of the opposition to leave Delhi searching for answers. The duo smacked 17, 18 and 20 runs in the last three overs respectively and this is where DC lost the plot. The partnership of 60 runs off 23 balls was the actual difference in the game.

New-ball spell from Bumrah and Boult: Trent Boult with the new ball is a treat to watch. He nipped out Prithvi Shaw and Ajinkya Rahane in the first over itself playing with their minds and footwork. Then came Jasprit Bumrah who rarely disappoints and he sent back Shikhar Dhawan with a snorting yorker. DC skipper Shreyas Iyer followed them back to the dressing room. Albeit a little too early, but it was the final nail in the coffin.

Top performers

Records/Personal Milestones

• Jasprit Bumrah has now picked 27 wickets in this season, the most for an Indian bowler in IPL history.
• Suryakumar Yadav played his 100th IPL match. He also completed 2000 IPL runs in the process.
• Quinton de Kock completed 1000 runs in IPL

Way Ahead

DC still have another shot at the title as they face the winner of SRH and RCB on November 8 in Qualifier 2. MI, on the other hand, will directly play the final on November 10.