Mitchell Starc Grabs First-Ever T20 Five-Wicket Haul
In his 144-match T20 career, Australian left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc has finally secured his first five-wicket haul.
He made an explosive impact in the powerplay, picking up three wickets in just seven deliveries. Later, in the death overs, he struck twice in three balls, completing his maiden five-wicket haul in T20 cricket. This also ended a long wait for Delhi.
Playing for Delhi Capitals against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday, Starc delivered a match-winning performance, taking 5 wickets for 35 runs in 3.4 overs.
This is the first five-wicket haul by any bowler in the 18th edition of the IPL. Overall, Starc became only the second Delhi bowler to achieve this milestone.
The last time a Delhi bowler took five wickets in an IPL match was in 2008 when Indian leg-spinner Amit Mishra, playing for the then Delhi Daredevils, picked up 5 for 17 against Deccan Chargers in the inaugural season.
Before this, Starc’s best T20 bowling figures were 4 for 15, achieved in IPL 2015 while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Kings XI Punjab.
Batting first after winning the toss in Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad got off to a decent start, scoring 11 runs in the first over bowled by Starc. Although he went wicketless in that over, Abhishek Sharma was run out by a direct throw from V. Raj Nigam.
Starc struck twice in his next over, dismissing Ishan Kishan and Nitish Kumar Reddy while conceding 9 runs.
Returning for a third consecutive over, he removed Travis Head with the very first ball, making it the sixth time he had dismissed his fellow Australian in eight matches across recognized cricket.
At the end of the powerplay, Starc had impressive figures of 3 for 33 in three overs.
He came back to bowl in the 19th over and wrapped things up in style. Dismissing Harshal Patel and Wiaan Mulder on the second and fourth deliveries, he completed his five-wicket haul and helped bowl out Hyderabad for 163 runs.
The 35-year-old pacer’s stunning spell was instrumental in Delhi’s dominant display.
