Romario Shepherd thumps 39 runs off 10 balls to stun Delhi Capitals

Tristan Stubbs’s explosive counterattack was in vain as Delhi Capitals tasted defeat by 29 runs against Mumbai Indians in a high-scoring game at the Wankhede. Stubbs bludgeoned seven sixes in his 25-ball 71* but was starved of strike in the last ten balls – when the requirement had come down to 42 – meaning DC fell short in reply.

Romario Shepherd’s last-over pyrotechnics against Anrich Nortje in Mumbai’s batting innings proved to be the point of difference, helping the hosts open their account in IPL 2024. His unbeaten 10-ball cameo of 39 turned MI’s above-par total into a formidable one as they were able to pluck 96 runs off the final five overs.

He whacked 4, 6, 6, 6, 4, 6 in the 20th over bowled by Anrich Nortje. The South African speedster, who picked 22 wickets in IPL 2020 to usher DC to the final, is proving mighty expensive this season.

Brief scores: Mumbai Indians 234/5 in 20 overs (Rohit Sharma 49, tim David 45*, Ishan Kishan 42, Romario Shepherd 39*; Axar Patel 2-35) beat Delhi Capitals 205/8 in 20 overs (Tristan Stubbs 71*, Prithvi Shaw 66; Gerald Coetzee 4-34, Jasprit Bumrah 2-22) by 29 runs