Hetmyer: “It’s a dream come true; I always wanted to play an IPL final”
“It’s a dream come true; I always wanted to plan an IPL final.”
That was the reaction of Shimron Hetmyer when asked by Delhi Capitals TV about his feelings of being part of the Dream11 IPL final.
Hetmyer’s team Delhi Capitals will face four-time champions Mumbai Indians in the grand finale on Tuesday from 10:00h (Caribbean time) in Dubai.
It’s the Capitals first trip to the final and fittingly the championship game will feature the top two teams from the League phase of the competition.
Mumbai Indians had defeated Delhi Capitals by 57 runs in Qualifier One to book a place in the final, and Capitals secured their spot in a second attempt when they won Qualifier Two against Sunrisers Hyderabad by 17 runs.
Hetmyer did not play the game against Mumbai, but returned with a bang against Sunrisers, blazing to 42* off 22 balls to help set up the winning total of 189-3.
In 10 innings this season, Hetmyer has managed 180 runs, striking at 150 with 12 sixes, and a highest of 45 against Rajasthan Royals.
“Everything came off for us. We have a fantastic start with the bat and then in the middle overs we kept our pace going as well and then just finishing the game well. It was great from us with the bat and then to go in the field and do what we did to get one of their main batsmen (David Warner) in the second over, all round it was a good performance from us,” Hetmyer reflected.
In Qualifier Two, Capitals were given a rousing start of 86 in 8.2 overs by Shikhar Dhawan and Marcus Stoinis. Australian Stoinis cracked 38 off 27, but Dhawan batted deep, getting to 78 off 50 before being dismissed in the penultimate over.
Shreyas Iyer chipped in with 21, but it was Hetmyer’s late blows that propelled Capitals in the ‘death’ overs.
In reply, Purple Cap holder Kagiso Rabada dismissed dangerman Warner at the start of the second over to peg back Sunrisers. Despite a fighting 67 off 45 balls from Kane Williamson, Sunrisers fell short with Rabada taking 4-29 and Stoinis 3-26.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The two teams in Tuesday’s final have three Guyanese. Hetmyer and Keemo Paul are teammates at Delhi Capitals, while Sherfane Rutherford is at Mumbai Indians. Paul and Rutherford however, have not played a game this season.