Delhi Capitals had won the toss and chosen to bat against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2020 final on Tuesday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Marcus Stoinis and Shikhar Dhawan came out to face the first over bowled by New Zealand left-arm pacer Trent Boult, who was passed fit after suffering a groin strain in Qualifier 1 against Delhi Capitals. However, Mumbai Indians had the best start possible. Boult bowled a short ball that angled away and climbed up from the deck. However, it cut back in and Stoinis was surprised to see the extra lift as he gloved the catch to Quinton de Kock. Boult struck in the first ball of the match and he created a new record.
This was the eighth time that Trent Boult had struck in the first over of the game in IPL 2020. He took his wickets tally against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2020 to nine in four games. After taking one wicket in Abu Dhabi, Boult took three wickets in the league game in Dubai while he also took two wickets in the Qualifier. In the final, after taking the wicket of Stoinis, Boult continued to weave his magic.
In the third over, Ajinkya Rahane tried to flick a full ball to the leg side but the ball swung in a touch more and he got an edge that was taken down the leg side by Quinton de Kock. When Shikhar Dhawan fell for 15 to Jayant Yadav, Delhi Capitals were in trouble. However, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer steadied the ship with a brilliant partnership.
Good stand
Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer shared a magnificent partnership worth 96 runs for the fourth wickets, with Pant becoming the second-youngest player after Manan Vohra to hit a fifty in an IPL final. Shreyas Iyer also hit his third fifty in IPL 2020 and he also went past 500 runs.
Just as Delhi Capitals were looking for a good score, Trent Boult came back and struck in his final over. The left-armer bowled a slow, full ball and Shimron Hetmyer looked to lap it to fine leg but got a top edge and Boult ended up taking three wickets to finish with 3/30. Shreyas Iyer hit an unbeaten 65 and this was the second-highest score by a skipper in IPL final after David Warner's 69 in IPL 2016 final vs Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Delhi Capitals have ended on 156/7 and Mumbai Indians will have to bat really well against the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje if they have to win the IPL title for the fifth time.
