Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) defeated Delhi Capitals (DC) by nine runs in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match held on Saturday.
SRH, who won the toss, decided to bat first.
Abhishek Sharma opened the innings for SRH and played an excellent knock of 67 off 36 balls. He was well supported by Heinrich Klaasen, who remained unbeaten on 53 off just 27 balls. The duo helped SRH post a competitive total of 197 for 6 in their 20 overs. Mitchell Marsh was the pick of the bowlers for DC, taking 4 for 27. However, 62 runs were scored off the last five overs, which gave SRH a significant advantage.
In reply, the likes of Marsh and Phil Salt (59 off 35) smashed the fifties and lower down the order, Axar Patel (29 off 14) also tried his best but it was not enough as Delhi suffered their sixth defeat of the season.
Chasing a big total, Delhi Capitals lost the wicket of skipper David Warner in the very first over of the innings bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a two-ball duck.
Despite Warner’s wicket, the likes of Phil Salt and Mitchell Marsh decided to counter-attack. Both Salt and Marsh looked in good touch and dealt in boundaries and sixes to take Delhi Capitals to 57 runs in the first six overs.
Umran Malik came to bowl the 7th over and he was taken to the cleaners by Delhi batters with the pacer conceding 22 runs. Even Abhishek Sharma was not spared and 12 runs were scored in his over.
Though leg-spinner Mayank Markande bowled with discipline and both Salt and Marsh played him carefully, they kept the scoreboard ticking to make a century-stand and propelled Delhi Capitals to 101/1 at the halfway mark. During the process, Salt reached his maiden IPL half-century as well.
Soon after Mash hit Natarajan to score his fifty in 28 balls as Delhi were cruising towards the total. But as has been the case during the season, it was again Markande, who brought SRH back in the game by removing the dangerous Salt.
His spin partners Abhishek and Akeal then got rid of Manish Pandey (1) and big fish Marsh in quick succession. Youngsters Priyam Garg (12) and Sarfaraz Khan (9) also failed to grab the opportunity as Delhi were left struggling to 148-6 after 16.5 overs.
With 49 needed off 18 balls, Delhi had hopes from all-rounder Axar Patel and Ripal Patel and both did well to collect 14 runs from Bhuvneshwar to bring down the equation to 35 runs off 12 balls. But Natarajan bowled an excellent over and gave away just nine runs.
Delhi Capitals needed 26 runs off the last over to win and seasoned pacer Bhuvneshwar gave 16 runs to ensure the win for SRH.
Mayank Markande was the pick of the bowlers for SRH, taking 2 for 20 in his four overs. His performance with the ball helped SRH defend their total and secure a much-needed win.
SRH will now take on Punjab Kings in their next match on May 4, while DC will face Kolkata Knight Riders on May 8. (With inputs from PTI)
