IMAGES from the Indian Premier League match between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians, in New Delhi, on Saturday.
Jake Fraser-McGurk produced a power-hitting masterclass as Delhi Capitals kept themselves in the race for the IPL play-offs with a 10-run win over Mumbai Indians in Delhi on Saturday.
Bringing his big-hitting prowess to the fore, the young Australian gave the scorching Delhi heat competition with a sizzling 27-ball 84, powering DC to a massive 257 for 4 after they were asked to bat.
Tilak Varma (63) and Hardik Pandya (46) played some lofty shots to give Mumbai Indians a glimmer of hope but Delhi's bowlers, led by Rasikh Salam (3/34), struck at regular intervals end their fight at 247 for 9.
The victory elevated Delhi Capitals to fifth spot while Mumbai Indians continue to occupy the penultimate place in the 10-team league.
Mumbai's script did not go as per plan, as Khaleel Ahmed drew first blood in the form of Rohit Sharma (8).
With more than 250 runs to score, Mumbai's batters had to go from the word go and that led to Ishan Kishan (20) and Suryakumar Yadav's (26) losing their wickets.
Three wickets down and the required run-rate increasing, Pandya took things in his own hands, plundering 19 runs off the ninth over by DC's star spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
He punched three fours before launching the ball for a towering six over long-on.
Tilak Varma joined in with a boundary and a six off Axar Patel as the duo stitched a 71-run stand.
But 'Impact Player' Salam not only broke the partnership, claiming Pandya's wicket, but he also got rid of Nehal Wadhera in the same over.
Varma then found an ally in Tim David but he was run-out in the final over.
Earlier, while McGurk sparkled upfront, Stubbs dazzled with an unbeaten 48 off 25 balls in the death overs as DC put up a superlative batting effort to register their highest-ever score in the IPL.
Opening for Delhi for the second time this season, the 22-year-old Fraser-McGurk equalled his own record for the fastest fifty this season, getting to the milestone off just 15 balls after the hosts were put in to bat.
With McGurk in the middle, it was raining boundaries and sixes at the rather small Arun Jaitley Stadium. He hit 11 fours and six maximums. He got 19 runs off the first over bowled by Luke Wood, setting the tone as he skilfully exploited the field restrictions in the powerplay to nab 92 runs.
Facing arguably the best bowler in the world, the Australian greeted Jasprit Bumrah with a six over long-on, followed by a four in the second over.
Replacing Wood, Nuwan Thushara also couldn't stop McGurk from displaying his brute force and smashing three fours.
With his pacers being carted all over the park, Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya decided to introduce spin in the form of Piyush Chawla but it hardly mattered to McGurk, who struck a maximum over long-on to get his third IPL fifty.
Striking out over 300, he took a special liking to Pandya and clobbered the ball out of the park before sending one over deep mid-wicket as Abhishek Porel (36), standing at the other end, had the best seat in the stadium to enjoy the stroke-making.
Chawla finally put an end to the carnage with a googly.
Mumbai dominated for a couple of overs, with Mohammad Nabi picking up Porel in the 10th over.
But Shai Hope (41) swung into action, hitting five sixes, while Rishabh Pant (29) took out the helicopter. The DC skipper whipped the ball, which soared over deep mid-wicket.
Stubbs took DC past the 200-run mark. The South African continued his menacing form as he took Wood to the cleaners in the 18th over where he only dealt in boundaries. The over read 4 4 6 4 4 4.
However, Bumrah came in with a bouncer in the next over to get Pant, who attempted a pull only to find Rohit Sharma at deep backward square leg.
