New Delhi: Jake Fraser-McGurk exhibited a display of power-hitting prowess as Delhi Capitals maintained their bid for an IPL playoff berth with a 10-run triumph over Mumbai Indians on Saturday.
Opting to bat first, Delhi’s innings surged to a commanding 257 for four, propelled by the scintillating knock of young McGurk, who blazed to a scorching 84 off just 27 deliveries.
While Tilak Varma (63) and Hardik Pandya (46) offered resistance for Mumbai, the consistent strikes by Delhi bowlers, spearheaded by Rasikh Salam (3/34), thwarted Mumbai’s chase, restricting them to 247 for 9.
This victory propelled DC to the fifth position in the standings, while MI remained in the penultimate spot.
McGurk’s explosive innings at the top set the tone for Delhi’s batting onslaught, complemented by Tristan Stubbs’ unbeaten 48 off 25 balls in the latter overs, propelling DC to their highest-ever IPL total.
In response, MI faced early setbacks as Khaleel Ahmed dismissed Rohit Sharma (8). Despite a daunting target, MI’s batsmen launched into attack mode, resulting in the dismissals of Ishan Kishan (20) and Suryakumar Yadav (26).
Pandya took the reins, accumulating 19 runs off Kuldeep Yadav’s ninth over, including three boundaries and a six. However, Salam’s impactful bowling disrupted Pandya’s partnership with Varma, ultimately claiming his wicket along with Nehal Wadhera’s in a decisive over.
Subsequent partnerships were fleeting, as Varma’s resistance was cut short by a run-out in the final over.
Fraser-McGurk’s explosive start saw him equal his own record for the fastest fifty of the season, achieving the milestone off just 15 balls. His onslaught of boundaries and sixes provided DC with a blazing start, amassing 92 runs within the powerplay.
Despite facing elite bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, McGurk’s aggression continued, punctuated by his remarkable fifty off just 27 balls.
Contributions from Shai Hope (41) and Rishabh Pant (29), accompanied by Stubbs’ onslaught in the latter overs, propelled DC beyond the 200-run mark.
However, Jasprit Bumrah’s class shone through, dismissing Pant with a well-directed bouncer in the subsequent over, culminating in a catch by Rohit Sharma at deep backward square leg.
