MI’s Lendl Simmons during his 66 against DD in New Delhi on Saturday. Pic/PTI
New Delhi: Delhi Daredevils found table-toppers Mumbai Indians too hot to handle at the Kotla on Saturday. Up against a quality bowling attack, the young Delhi turks, who had done exceedingly well chasing in the previous two matches, just crumbled under pressure this time around. Required to chase over 200 for the second successive game, the home team’s flop show has virtually put them out of contention for a berth in the play offs.
Mumbai’s decision to give dashing West Indian opener Lendl Simmons his first game in IPL-10 and the promotion of Keiron Pollard to No. 3 paid big dividends as both carved superb half-centuries that enabled their team to put up a formidable 212 for three.
When the home team began their chase, the result of the match was a foregone conclusion even before the six-over power play was through, as Daredevils lost five wickets for just 35 runs. Thereafter, it was a just a matter of time, before the home team packed up for 66 (their lowest in IPL) in only 13.4 overs to give Mumbai a 146-run victory, the biggest margin in IPL history.
Mumbai brought in Simmons in place of Jos Buttler, as the Englishman will not be available for the play offs since he has to join the camp for Champions Trophy.
The re-jig of the tactics paid off big time as Simmons after an initial struggle, launched into the Daredevils bowling to collect a quick 66 from 43 balls. There was another surprise in store as Pollard walked in at the fall of opener Parthiv Patel. Pollard slammed an unbeaten 63 with five fours and four sixes.