Capitals run out of steam in chase

Five-time champions win by 12 runs after three run outs in the end, for only their 2nd victory of this season

- Samreen Razzaqui

NEW DELHI: Coming into Sunday's IPL match after four losses in five games, Mumbai Indians were under the pump against Delhi Capitals, who were at their home ground.

Not only did they end up spoiling Capitals' return home and their unbeaten run, they also spoilt what could have been a stunning comeback for Karun Nair. Hardik Pandya-led MI staged a splendid fight back and claimed a clutch of run outs to defeat DC by 12 runs at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground, only their second win in six matches.

Chasing 206, Nair was brought in as Impact Player to strengthen a batting unit missing the injured Faf du Plessis. Nair had to spring into action immediately as Jack Fraser-McGurk was dismissed for a golden duck. He took charge of the innings from the outset. By the end of the powerplay, DC had stormed to 72/1—their highest total of the season.

Nair blazed to a 22-ball half-century as he tore into Jasprit Bumrah early, taking 18 runs off his first over—the most by an Indian batter against the MI spearhead in IPL—and contributing to DC batters taking 29 runs off Bumrah's first two overs.