IPL 10, Match 45, DD vs MI: 5 Game Changing Moments

Delhi Daredevils were on a high after pulling off a heist against Gujarat Lions on Tuesday. After heroics from Sanju Samson and Rishab Pant, Delhi Daredevils’ hopes for progressing into the playoffs was combusted. Zaheer Khan returned into the scheme of things as he won the toss and elected to field first, backing their ability to chase down Mumbai Indians total.

As it turned out, Mumbai Indians annihilated the Daredevils in all departments of the game. The batting unit posted a total of 212 runs due to an unbelievable exhibition of power hitting from Simmons, Pollard, and Pandya. Delhi Daredevils fans would have hoped that Pant and Samson would repeat their heroics from Tuesday but alas! Delhi absolutely succumbed their way out of the tournament.

Delhi Daredevils were bundled out for one of the lowest totals of 66. Mumbai Indians won the match by a whopping margin of 146 runs which is the highest recorded ever in the history of IPL. With this win, Mumbai Indians officially becomes the first team to progress into the playoffs.

Here are the five game-changing moments in the game.

1.Early fireworks from Lendl Simmons

Lendl Simmons has been a key member over the years for the Mumbai Indians and today he displayed the reason why. With Jos Buttler acquiring the opening slot for the Mumbai Indians, it was difficult for the Trinidadian to break into the side. But he made the most of the opportunity provided to him as he scored a fluent 43-ball 66, laying the perfect platform for the likes of Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard, and Hardik Pandya. His partnership with Parthiv Patel put the home team on the back foot right away.

2. Pandya and Pollard Show

Kieron Pollard was promoted up the order ahead of the in-form Nitish Rana and Rohit Sharma. The West Indian did not disappoint as he came out of his sluggish form to score a 35-ball 63, laced with 4 sixes and five boundaries. His partnerships with Lendl Simmons and Hardik Pandya took the game out of reach from the opposition. Pandya and Pollard smacked the death bowlers of Delhi to all the corners of the ground, notching up 64 in the last 5 overs.

3. Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant scoring ducks

Much was expected from Delhi’s heroes from the last match against the Gujarat Lions, as the supporters hoped that the duo would repeat their valiant efforts from Tuesday when they made a mockery of Lion’s daunting score. But it turned out to be an anticlimax as both the batsmen were dismissed for a duck. Sanju Samson scored a golden duck off the bowling of McClenghan. Rishab Pant could only stay for three deliveries. The dismissal of the duo deflated the hopes of Daredevils for progressing into the tournament.

4. Mumbai Bowling Firepower

Delhi had no answer to Mumbai Indians bowling arsenal as all the bowlers chipped in with important wickets to decimate the Daredevils batting line-up. The batsmen could neither combat the spin or negotiate with the pace of the Mumbai Indians. MI spinners entangled the batsmen in their spin-web as Karn Sharma and Harbhajan Singh broke the back of the Daredevils middle order by picking up six wickets. Malinga gave away only 5 runs in his two overs and picked up 2 wickets. Bumrah and McCleneghan picked up the key wickets of Pant and Samson respectively.

5. Daredevils Batting Collapse

It was only a week ago when Daredevils collapsed against Kings XI Punjab and registered their lowest total of 67. It seemed like Daredevils didn’t learn from their mistakes as they broke their record of the lowest total yet again by scoring 66 against Mumbai Indian. Only 3 out of the 11 batsmen could manage a score of double digits. Their dismal performance with the bat induced the greatest ever win by a margin in the IPL.