Alzarri Joseph made a dream debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with figures of 6 for 12 in 3.4 overs — the best IPL figures by a bowler — as Mumbai Indians (MI), registered a comprehensive 40-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Uppal on Saturday. Sohail Tanvir’s 6/14 for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings was the best figure in the IPL for more than 10 years.
The Mumbai franchise roped in the West Indies pacer Joseph as a replacement for an injured Adam Milne. And the 22-year-old made an emphatic start to his tenure with MI, taking the wicket of David Warner with the first ball of his IPL career. He then went on to scalp Vijay Shankar and Deepak Hooda before cleaning up the tail.
For once SRH looked favourites to take home victory after a quality bowling effort, but Joseph and Mumbai topped their potency with the ball. The game might have looked different had another West Indian – all-rounder Kieron Pollard – not propelled his side to a defendable total with some huge hits.
Pollard exploded in the final overs of the first innings, notching a 26-ball 46, lifting MI from 97/7 at the end start of the 18th over to 136/7, smashing four sixes along the way.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Bowling unit of #MumbaiIndians looks solid with Bumrah n now #AlzarriJoseph making a stunning debut #SRHvsMI
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 6, 2019
Best ever bowling figures in IPL History. Alzzari Joseph does it on debut. At end of 18 MI were 97 ,ended with 136, last 2 overs difference made by another West Insian, Pollard. #SRHvMI
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) April 6, 2019
I wish I could’ve been there to witness a brilliant spell of bowling by our new @mipaltan teammate Alzarri Joseph.#MumbaiIndians' fight today was just fantastic.#SRHvMI pic.twitter.com/ASVqTyN6rR
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) April 6, 2019
Another Windies boy made us proud!!! @AlzarriJoseph 💪
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6️⃣/1️⃣2️⃣ 🔥🔥
.#mivssrh #AlzarriJoseph #VIVOIPL2019 #IPL #windies #MumbaiIndians #VIVOIPL #Cricket #History #sunrisershyderabad
@ImRo45 @mipaltan @SunRisers https://t.co/XZL5TTHFR9— Brian Lara (@BrianLara) April 6, 2019
That has to be the best @IPL debut ever
— Carlos Brathwaite (@CRBrathwaite26) April 6, 2019
Some wonderful things happening with West Indies cricket this season. Add Alzarri Joseph’s sensational IPL debut to that.👏👏👏🙏🙏🙏🙏#SRHvsMI
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) April 6, 2019
Alzarri Joseph 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 @mipaltan great victory
— Rahul Sharma (@ImRahulSharma3) April 6, 2019
And that's the best bowling figures in IPL cricket and mind you is on his debut @AlzarriJoseph . Take a bow speedster #MIvsSRH
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) April 6, 2019
What a start to his IPL career @AlzarriJoseph .. Totally loved this rapid spell.#MIvsSRH
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) April 6, 2019
What a dream debut for Alzarri Joseph 6/12. He hasn’t played a T20I yet for West Indies and what a beginning he has has in the IPL. The West Indies’ players continue to create an impact. #SRHvMI
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 6, 2019
Alzarri Joseph is absolutely fantastic … The West Indies are coming back … Love it for the World game … #IPL2019
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 6, 2019
Great come by @csk nd @mipaltan in d game by both d team defending tonight. #AlzarriJoseph was outstanding in his debut. Future star ⭐️ 4 sure👍I’m sure #KINGS11 wudnt believe themselves how did they lose d match from a winning position🤔Anyways great Saturday it was. Gudnite 😴
— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) April 6, 2019
Alzarri Joseph turns up from the other end of the world, bowls fast, and produces a match winning performance for his team. What a debut.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 6, 2019
Huge win for MI. SRH not only difficult to beat at home but had also looked best team in the tournament. Not quite so when Warner-Bairstow don’t fire and Williamson’s not playing. Two wins on the trot gives MI the momentum needed. And in Alzarri Joseph, a new star!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 6, 2019
.@SunRisers middle order clearly failed the test today. Highly impressed by Alzarri Joseph’s spell. West Indies have found another star! #SRHvMI
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) April 6, 2019
Friday Night—Russell.
Saturday Night—Pollard and AlzariIndian Premier League hai ya West Indian Premier League?? 🙈🤣 #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 6, 2019