MUMBAI, India – West Indies batsman Rovman Powell suffered heartbreak on Saturday despite his entertaining knock, as Rajasthan Royals crashed to a five-wicket defeat to Mumbai Indians to miss out on the final spot in the Indian Premier League playoffs.
Needing a win to leapfrog Royal Challengers Bangalore, Royals could only muster an inadequate 159 for seven off their 20 overs – a target Mumbai overhauled with five balls to spare at home at the Wankhede.
The right-handed Powell top-scored with 43 from 34 balls and captain Rishabh Pant a more measured 39 off 33 deliveries as Royals recovered from a dodgy start to reach their eventual total.
In fact, they were languishing at 50 for four in the ninth over before Powell and Pant combined in a 75-run, fifth wicket stand to rescue the innings.
Powell lashed a four and four sixes while Pant counted four fours and a six before perishing at the end of the 16th over.
Jamaican Powell followed in the penultimate over, losing his off-stump to marquee fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah who ended with three for 25.
In reply, opener Ishan Kishan struck 48 from 35 deliveries while Dewald Brevis got 37 and Tim David, 34, as Mumbai ended a wretched season with only their fourth win of their 14-match complement to finish bottom of the 10-team standings.
Captain Rohit Sharma fell cheaply for two in the sixth over but Kishan then belted three fours and four sixes to dominate a 51-run, second wicket stand with Brevis, who hit a four and three sixes off 33 balls.
Both fell, however, to leave Mumbai on 95 for three in the 15th before David blasted an 11-ball cameo with two fours and four sixes, in a 60-run, fifth wicket partnership with Tilak Varma (21), to turn the tables on Royals who ended fifth on 14 points.
Brief scores: Delhi Capitals 159/7 in 20 overs (Rovman Powell 43, Rishabh Pant 39; Jasprit Bumrah 3-25, Ramandeep Singh 2-29) lost to Mumbai Indians 160/5 in 19.1 overs (Ishan Kishan 48, Dewald Brevis 37; Shardul Thakur 2-32, Anrich Nortje 2-37) by 5 wickets.
(CMC)