Mumbai Indians' all-rounder Romario Shepherd's absolute carnage was on display as he took on the Delhi Capitals pacer Anrich Nortje in the final over of the visitors' batting during the IPL 2024 clash at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday, April 7.
Mumbai Indians were 202/5 after 19 overs and Shepherd unleashed his power-hitting ability to help the team post a solid total of 234/5 in 20 overs. In the final over, Romario Shepherd began his fireworks with a four straight down to the ground on the first ball of the final over by Nortje. Then, Shepherd switched to complete beast mode smashed three consecutive balls out of the ground.
On the fifth ball, the West Indian hit a four towards the long-off and before going for another six on the last ball to finish off his spectacular in style. The crowd went berserk by Romario Shepherd's fireworks in the final over. Shepherd played a scintillating cameo knock of 39 off 10 balls at an astounding strike rate of 390.
At one point Mumbai Indians were 138/4 after 15 overs, adding 63 runs in nine overs after the powerplay (1-6 overs) where the visitors posted 75/0 on the board. Hardik Pandya and Tim David shared 43-run partnership for the fifth until the MI skipper was dismissed for 39 off 33 balls at 181/5.
Then, David was joined by Romario Shepherd in the middle with only 2.5 overs left in Mumbai Indians' batting. However, the pair made the best use of the final 13 balls of the innings as they added 53 runs to their partnership to ensure the visitors posted a solid total on the board.
Mumbai Indians overcome Prithvi Shaw and Tristan Stubbs juggernauts to earn first win
Mumbai Indians finally put an end of three-losing streak as they first win of the IPL 2024 with a 29-run win over Delhi Capitals. After posting a total of 234/5, the hosts restricted to 205/8 in 20 overs.
After an early breakthrough by dismissing David Warner at 22/1, Mumbai Indians bowlers faced a stiff challenge from Prithvi Shaw and Abhishek Porel as they built a good partnership. The pair formed 88-run stand for the second wicket until Shaw was bowled out with a yorker by Jasprit Bumrah for 66 at 110/1.
Porel's stay at the crease ended after Bumrah dismissed him for 41 at 144/3. Except Tristan Stubbs, none of the middle-order batters stepped up for the team when they were needed the most. Stubbs waged a lone battle and played a scintillating unbeaten innings of 71 off 25 balls. However, effort went in vain.
For Mumbai Indians, Gerald Coetzee led the attack as he registered the figures of 4/34 in four overs, including three wickets in the final over of the match. Veteran pacer Jasprit Bumrah picked two wickets while conceding just 22 runs with an economy rate of 5.5 in four overs.
