Kishan-inspired Mumbai rampant as Capitals' hold on playoffs spot loosens
Ishan Kishan was the star of the show as Mumbai Indians consigned Delhi Capitals to a fourth loss in a row in the Indian Premier League.
Delhi Capitals are in increasing danger of missing out on the Indian Premier League play-offs as they suffered a fourth successive defeat, this time by nine wickets to defending champions and leaders Mumbai Indians.
The Capitals were top of the IPL just a couple of weeks ago but have since capitulated and could yet slip out of the top four, with Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders hoping to capitalise and secure a spot in the next phase.
On Saturday the Capitals came undone in the face of another dominant bowling display by Mumbai, with Trent Boult (3-21) and Jasprit Bumrah (3-17) particularly impressive as Delhi were limited to just 110-9.
Shikhar Dhawan was the first to fall for the Capitals with Boult claiming his scalp from just the third delivery of the innings, meaning the opener has failed to reach double figures in three consecutive matches.
Prithvi Shaw (10) soon trudged off too, while Shreyas Iyer, top-scorer with 25, Marcus Stoinis (two) and Rishabh Pant (21) were sent packing in a nine-ball spell, and any hope of a late flurry was snuffed out as no one else managed more than 12 runs.
With such a small target, Mumbai's careful and conservative start to the chase looked smart.
De Kock eventually went for 26 in the 11th over, Anrich Nortje doing the damage, but it was hardly the beginning of a resurgence as Ishan Kishan (72 not out) continued to plug away, reaching 50 at the start of the 12th.
Nortje and Kagiso Rabada (27-0) ? the latter wicketless for a second match on the bounce ? had no answer to the 22-year-old, who took Mumbai over the line with an emphatic six to reach 111-1, wrapping up a one-sided victory.
KISHAN THE STAR
In the past week or so, Kishan seems to have begun to settle, with scores of 68 not out, 37, 25 and now 72no. His effort on Saturday was better than any of his past eight, and he recorded it against the experienced Nortje and Rabada.
With Kishan named man of the match, captain Kieron Pollard praised him afterwards, saying: "Each and every game Ishan is getting better and better. Long may it continue. He's been able to adapt to different scenarios. He didn't even start at the beginning, then he went number four. He's adapting."
ANOTHER DIFFICULT DAY FOR RABADA
Against Sunrisers Hyderabad last time out, Rabada's numbers of 0-54 were alarming, particularly given he had not gone wicketless in 25 IPL matches.
He is now without a wicket in successive matches as he failed to find a way past Kishan ? though in the grand scheme of the match, it would have taken something remarkable from the Capitals' bowlers to make up for the poor first innings.
