Green, David guide Mumbai to first win in final ball nail-biter

Australian pair Cameron Green and Tim David negotiated a tricky final over from Anrich Nortje as Mumbai Indians scraped their way to a six-wicket win over the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League.

Nortje had just five runs in hand in the final over on Tuesday but leaked only three off the first five balls. 

Green, who made an unbeaten 17, and David (13 not out) scampered for two runs off the last ball and took Mumbai to 4-173 and their first win in the tournament.

Earlier, captain David Warner (51) hit his third half-century in four games for Delhi but the home team were bowled out for 172 in 19.4 overs.

Image Id: 6C4B2AB1476C48C6985AC1208384E8F9 Image Caption: Warner scored 51 from 47 balls // BCCI-Sportzpics

Delhi's batters struggled for the fourth straight game and lost wickets in clusters before Axar Patel blazed 54 off 25 balls to give the score some respectability.

"Obviously, winning the game is the most important thing and it's a great feeling to cross the line," Mumbai skipper Rohit Sharma said. "To get the result feels really good and we're going to cherish this."

Sharma appeared to have sealed the game with his sublime 65 off 45 balls and shared two meaningful half-century stands.

Sharma contributed 71 with Ishan Kishan (31) for the first wicket and added 68 with Tilak Varma, who hit four sixes and a boundary in his 41 off 29 balls.

But fast bowler Mukesh Kumar's twin strikes off successive balls in the 16th over rattled Mumbai, with Varma and Suryakumar Yadav both getting caught on the edge of the boundary.

Image Id: C40EE19531CE41B2849CF0164F20A9B6 Image Caption: David finished with 13no from 11 balls // BCCI-Sportzpics

Wicketkeeper Abishek Porel then pulled off a sensational right-handed catch to dismiss Sharma in the following over off Mustafizur Rahman as Mumbai lost three wickets in space of four runs.

But Green and impact player David kept their nerve against the pace of Nortje in the final over after the WA duo both hit sixes of Mustafizur's penultimate over to reduce the equation to five runs off six balls.

"I think we only needed two or three boundaries so it was just being busy when I got out there but thankfully a few came off," Green said.

Image Id: F2DE3ECB7D7F4023852CD39087A30605 Image Caption: Green launches a six in the penultimate over // BCCI-Sportzpics

"There's definitely pressure there but it's so much fun.

"Being out there trying to get 10 an over, that's what you live for and that's why you're here and it's pretty special when you get wins like that and hopefully it kickstarts our campaign."

Delhi opener Prithvi Shaw (15) continued his struggle in the powerplay as he swept spinner Hrithik Shokeen straight to backward square leg.

Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla then picked up 3-22 and West Australian quick Jason Behrendorff (3-23) got the vital wickets of Patel and Warner in his return spell before Delhi were bowled out in the final over.

Image Id: 511E47B220EE40DDBCC7521D52ACA22C Image Caption: Behrendorff celebrates the wicket of David Warner // BCCI-Sportzpics

Patel smashed five sixes and four boundaries before getting caught in the deep of a full delivery from Behrendorff and Warner top-edged a slower leg-cutter to short third man.

Tasmanian speedster Riley Meredith also claimed 2-34 to help dismiss the hosts.

The defeat leaves Delhi rooted at the bottom of table while Mumbai moved above Sunrisers Hyderabad with their first win.

Aussies in IPL 2023

Delhi Capitals: Mitch Marsh ($1.2m), David Warner ($1.16m)

Gujarat Titans: Matthew Wade ($446,000)

Lucknow Super Giants: Marcus Stoinis ($1.7m), Daniel Sams ($135,000)

Mumbai Indians: Tim David ($1.53m), Cameron Green ($3.15m), Jason Behrendorff ($135,000)

Punjab Kings: Nathan Ellis ($135,000), Matt Short ($36,000)

Rajasthan Royals: Adam Zampa ($270,000)

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Josh Hazlewood ($1.4m), Glenn Maxwell ($2m)

Figures represent auction price in Australian dollars at time of sale