Record-breaking Joseph stuns Sunrisers on debut

Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph
Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph

HYDERABAD, India, CMC – West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph snatched a six-wicket haul to record the best-ever figures in Indian Premier League history, as he made a sensational start to his IPL career by firing Mumbai Indians to a 40-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad here yesterday.

In his debut match following his late call-up for the tournament, the 22-year-old finished with six for 12 from just 22 deliveries, a performance which sent the hosts crashing for 96 all out in the 18th over in pursuit of a modest target of 137.

Joseph surpassed the previous best of six for 14 by left-arm seamer Sohail Tanvir 11 years ago and became only the fourth bowler to take six wickets in the IPL

His West Indies teammate Kieron Pollard had earlier top-scored with a crucial unbeaten 46 as Mumbai, asked to bat first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, were held to a disappointing 136 for seven off their 20 overs.

They were slumping at 97 for seven at the end of the 18th before Pollard struck two fours and four sixes in a 26-ball knock, to buttress the innings in an unbroken 39-run eighth wicket stand with Joseph who never faced a ball in the partnership.

Pollard never suggested permanence early on, surviving a chance in the 18th over when he had scraped eight off 12 balls. He exploded in the final two overs, slamming three sixes in the penultimate over from samer Siddarth Kaul which cost 20 runs, before taking 19 runs from the final over from pacer Bhuvneswar Kumar.

In reply, Sunrisers reached 33 before losing both openers with no addition to the score. Australian David Warner was the second to fall, dragging on a drive to the first ball of Joseph’s IPL career.

The Antiguan claimed his second wicket in the seventh over, having Vijay Shankar caught at point for five and returned in a second spell to get top-scorer Deepak Hooda for 20 in the 16th over.

With Sunrisers tottering on 88 for six, Joseph ran through the lower order to take three of the last four wickets to fall.

In Chennai, superstar Chris Gayle perished cheaply for five as Kings XI Punjab failed in their bid to overhaul 161, losing by 22 runs to Chennai Super Kings.