Boult from the blue: How the Kiwi stunned Delhi in IPL 2020 Final

Trent Boult became the first bowler to pick up a wicket off the first ball in an IPL final.

Trent Boult celebrating a wicket with teammates in the IPL 2020 final. (IPL)

Trent Boult made his way into the record books in Mumbai Indians’ clash against Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2020 final. This was the after the Kiwi speedster became the first player in the tournament’s history to scalp a wicket off the first ball of a final on Tuesday.

In Mumbai’s previous match against Delhi in the first qualifier, Boult could only bowl two overs and he left the field thereafter. But in the final in Dubai, he came up with two strikes inside the Powerplay.

After winning the toss, DC came out to bat first with Shikhar Dhawan and Marcus Stoinis.

On the first delivery of the opening over, Boult showed a superb use of the seam position and snared the wicket of the in-form Stoinis with a caught behind. Coming at the back of length, the delivery moved back in to force a thick outside edge.

The New Zealand pacer quickly struck again in the third over of DC’s innings as he got rid of Ajinkya Rahane, leaving Delhi tottering at 16/2 in 2.4 overs. On the fourth ball of the over, Rahane tried to flick a leg-side delivery but the ball found an edge and was neatly taken by de Kock behind the stumps.

Boult, who has had a brilliant season, picked up 16 wickets in the powerplay of IPL 2020, at an economy rate of 6.72 in 36 overs. In the first overs of an innings in IPL 2020, he has scalped seven wickets at an economy of 4.86.

Boult also ended season 13 with an economy of 6.7 rpo, and a 13.5 strike rate.

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In IPL history, the only player to record a better strike rate (min 10 wickets) in that phase over a season, was Umesh Yadav in 2018 (14 wickets, SR 13.2).

Meanwhile, defending champions Mumbai Indians claimed their fifth Indian Premier League (IPL) title on Tuesday, thrashing Delhi Capitals by five wickets in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

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