IPL 2020 Final Played at DSC Dubai
Mumbai Indians (MI) VS Delhi Capitals (DC) on 10 November 2020
Brief Scorecard: MI 157/5 in 18.4 overs (R Sharma 68, Ishan Kishan 33*, Q De Kock 20, SA Yadav 19, A Nortje 2/32) beat DC 156/7 (SS Iyer 65*, RR Pant 56, TA Boult 3/ 30, NM Coulter -Nile 2/29) by 5 Wickets
Player Of The Match: Trent Boult
Player Of The Series: Jofra Archer.
If one asks where is the capital of Indian cricket win anyone hesitate answering it as Mumbai? Perhaps not. Mumbai is the capital of Indian Cricket. Mumbai Indians proved it once again winning the 5th IPL trophy and beating Delhi Capital four times in IPL 2020 alone. In a virtually one-sided final they completely outplayed DC winning by 5 wickets. DC batting first could post a below par score of 155/7. MI cruised past with ease and comfort scoring 157//5 in 18.4 overs.
Cricinfo eloquently summed up,
Quote,
” Title number 5. Odd year, even year, leap year, pandemic year - doesn't matter”
Unquote
MI in IPL 2020 was a great team having many impact players. Two or three batsmen of the strong batting unit of Rohit Sharma, Q de Cock, SA Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Keiron Pollard, K Pandya, H Pandya delivered in matches posting competitive scores . The quality all round bowling attack comprising of Trent Boult, Jaspreet Bumrah, James Pattinson Coulter –Nile, Pandya , Pollard, Rahul Chahar, Dhawal Kulkarni defended with precision and penetration. They finished group matches staying clearly on top . In the play offs MI blew away twice DC having beaten them twice in early matches.
with so many match winning performances by different players at different times.
DC was perhaps the weakest of the four teams those qualified for the play offs. However, they started the tournament very well winning most of their matches at the start. They after losing few matches on a trot they got back to winning at the later stage qualifying for the play offs as the second best. In the first play off they lost to MI . But bounced back wining narrowly against SRH. In the final DC proved no match for MI.
Batting first DC struggled all the way losing their better performing Australian all rounder Marcus Stoinis in the first very first ball of Boult. Rahane and Dhawan also left soon making it 3/22 by the 4th over. Young captain Iyer (65*) and talented Pant (56) putting together 96 in the 4th wicket raised some hope. But none else could contribute against very penetrative MI bowling. 156/7 in the final especially against a very strong MI batting was well below par. Boult again with 3/30 delivered a match winning performance. Bumrah (0/28) without taking a wicket. Coulter-Nile took 2/29. If one or two players could produce brief cameo adding with the efforts of Iyer and Pant DC could post competitive score.
The target of 157 could not test MI. Q de Kock (20) and Rohit Sharma (68) gave a flying start racing to 45 by the 5th over. Rohit and Yadav (19) added another 45 in the 2nd wicket partnership. From there on it was a cake walk for MI as champion batsman Rohit back in his prolific best delivered yet again a match wining 68 off 51 deliveries. Ishan Kishan (33*) gave the finishing touch as MI won by 5 wickets scoring 157/5. The final was an anti climax to a tournament witnessing many mouth-watering contests.
BCCI in general and IPL authority in particular deserves a great credit for organising yet another very successful IPL tournament in a very challenging situation. The matches among evenly matched sides were closely fought on top quality wickets off course on mostly empty terraces. Most importantly with 100% safety in the pandemic situation. It was full of entertainment and off course many matches appeared to have been scripted. Bookies must have made huge business.
Kiwi speedster Trent Boult was adjudged player of the match. West Indian turned English player Jofra Archer was awarded as player of the tournament.
BSDT: 1155 HRS, NOV 11, 2020
SMS
