Delhi Daredevils today defeated defending champions Mumbai Indians by 10 runs to register their third straight win in the IPL and senior batsman JP Duminy credited the Zaheer Khan-led bowling attack for playing a major role in the win.
Defending 164 for five, Daredevils dished out a "clinical" bowling and fielding display to restrict Mumbai Indians to 154 for seven and Duminy feels superb death bowling sealed the match in their favour at the Feroze Shah Kotla ground here.
"I think probably with five overs to go during our bowling, the game was still in the balance. Especially on this ground you back the batting side to get over the line. But our bowlers bowled exceptional death overs. It was superb execution from them. It's something that the guys have been working on pretty hard and it's good to see it has come off," Duminy said at the post-match press conference.
Stating that 164 was a good score, Duminy praised spin duo of Amit Mishra (2/24) and Imran Tahir for controlling the proceedings in the middle overs.
"It was definitely a challenging score. We knew that getting wickets upfront would be key and fortunately we got the first one through a run out. The way Immy (Imran Tahir) and (Amit Mishra) Mishy bowled in the middle period was exceptional and the seamers backed it up at the death. For me that was a clinical bowling performance," the South African left-hander said.
Asked about the difference between Daredevils' performance this season compared to previous editions of IPL, Duminy said: "The difference is the execution. Zak (Zaheer) has obviously led the execution very well. There are a couple of new faces in the team and the guys have stood up and produced performances that were needed. Most teams have been winning while chasing so it is good to defend a score."
Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians all-rounder Krunal Pandya also feels they lost the match in the death overs.
He feels his run out proved costly for the title holders' as at one stage Mumbai Indians were coasting along when he was batting in the company of skipper Rohit Sharma.
"I was batting really well. But it was totally my mistake. There was no run in it. It was unnecessary. We backed ourselves to win because we have a good batting line up but they bowled really well at the death. They executed their Yorkers to perfection," said Krunal, who smashed a quickfire 36 off 17 balls.
He refused to buy the theory that Rohit and Kieron Pollard left it too late to open up their arms while chasing the target.
"Rohit bhai was there and it was chaseable. They (Rohit and Pollard) are match winners. It was probably the death overs where we lost the match," Krunal said.
