Tim David and Marcus Stoinis made it a fruitful day for Australia’s big batsmen in India, with the two powerful batsmen helping their teams to victory in the IPL.
David produced one of his entertaining specials on Sunday, hitting an unbeaten 45 off just 21 balls to help propel Mumbai Indians to their first win of the season at their home Wankhede Stadium against a flavored Delhi Capitals team Australian in trouble.
Later, all-rounder Stoinis smashed his eighth IPL half-century to set the stage for the Justin Langer-coached Lucknow Super Giants to beat the Gujarat Titans by 33 runs in Lucknow.
However, the Australian strikers would have doffed their caps to the real star of the day: West Indian Romario Shepherd, who put on an extraordinary display of batting pyrotechnics at the end of Mumbai’s innings.
Guyana’s big all-rounder had his scene in the final, bowled by South African speedster Anrich Nortje and scored 32 runs to take Mumbai to 5-234.
The faster Nortje came in, the more Shepherd seemed to hit him, and even a monstrous six disappeared from the substantial ground.
“It’s exciting to see him on the other end, he hit those six shots from the floor that everyone here enjoyed,” David said after the win.
“I got eclipsed at the back but it was a great effort. Sheppy applied the hammer and it was the perfect finish.”
In response, Delhi, coached by Ricky Ponting and with three Australians in their ranks, could not move forward and now find themselves at the bottom of the table.
David Warner was dismissed by Shepherd for 10 after hitting the West Indian for six.
Jhye Richardson, who had earlier had to take a break after feeling dazed in the sweltering heat while taking 0-40 in his four overs, was bowled out for two, one of Gerald Coetzee’s four victims as Delhi fell short by 29 runs. at 8-205.
The other Australian in sight was Jake Fraser-McGurk who, while still awaiting his IPL bow, took two successful catches for Delhi as a substitute fielder.
In Lucknow, Stoinis scored his first half-century of the season, top-scoring with 58 off 43 balls in the Super Giants’ 5-163.
Gujarat’s Australian left-arm spinner Spencer Johnson again performed well with his 0-32 in four overs, allowing just eight at the death despite the second ball being hit for six.
The Titans never threatened in the chase, with Yash Thakur leading 5-30 as Langer’s impressive side moved to third place in the table.
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AAP