Mumbai vs Delhi, Indian T20 League 2021: As it happened
Delhi beat Mumbai by four wickets to become the second team to qualify for the 2021 Indian T20 League playoffs.
October 2, 2021
Team Delhi became the second team to qualify for the 2021 Indian T20 League playoffs following their four-wicket win over Mumbai. After having decided to bowl first, Delhi restricted Mumbai to 129/8, with Avesh Khan and Axar Patel picking three wickets each.
The last year's finalists took some beating in the second innings but former captain Shreyas Iyer and veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin steadied the ship with a 39-run partnership. Ashwin eventually ended the match with a six off Krunal Pandya as Delhi booked their place in the playoffs.
We knew it will be a difficult venue," said Rohit Sharma after the match.
"We watched a lot of matches, and it's not the easiest venues to play and make a lot of runs. We were well prepared and we knew what we had to do. I thought we didn't bat well enough. We knew it wasn't a 170-180 wicket, but we knew it was a 140 wicket. W
"We just didn't get the partnerships going. If your batters aren't going to post runs on the board, it will be difficult to win games. I personally accept that. We're not able to execute in the middle, which is particularly disappointing. We are not playing to our potential. Hopefully, in the next two games, we play the way we are known for," he said.
After 12 matches, Mumbai still sit sixth in the points table and their chances of making it to the playoffs are looking slim.
Mumbai took their time to set the field, but Ashwin hits Krunal Pandya for a six which travelled 61 meters. Delhi win the match by four wickets and become the second team to qualify for the playoffs.
Important runs for Delhi
What could have been a dot ball has turned into two runs for Delhi. Rohit Sharma throws towards the stumps and the ball race towards the other side. Delhi pounce and Ashwin and Iyer runs two. Four runs needed off the final over.
Delhi: 125/6 after 19 overs.
An important boundary
Jasprit Bumrah to Shreyas Iyer and that's a big boundary. He opens himself up and hits it towards mid-wicket. Just 11 runs needed off the final two overs.
Delhi: 119/6 after 18 over.
Back to back dots
Back to back dot balls from Coulter-Nile and pressure on Delhi now. Iyer will be on strike in the next over though.
Delhi: 111/6 after 17 overs.
Delhi cruising!
A welcome boundary for Delhi as Shreyas Iyer pulls a powerful shot towards deep midwicket off Nathan Coulter-Nile. 19 runs needed off 20 balls.
Delhi can still take it home
With Shreyas Iyer still on the crease, Delhi are well in the game. All they need is to stay calm, score a run every ball and the match will be theirs for the taking.
Delhi: 100/6 after 15 overs
WICKET! Dangerous Hetmyer departs
Big wicket for Mumbai. Jasprit Bumrah dismisses Shimron Hetmyer. The West Indian hits his shot towards short cover but is caught by Rohit Sharma. He goes for 15 off 8 balls.
Delhi: 94/6 after 14 overs.
And that's strategic time out!
Delhi are on course towards a successful chase. They need to play it calm and keep the wickets. They are scoring at over 7 runs per per over.
