[ad_1]
A first win for the Hyderabad Sunrisers at IPL 2020. That would bring their campaign to life in the UAE. The victory over the capitals of Delhi came after a valiant performance in Abu Dhabi. All his fighting qualities were demonstrated in his disciplined hitting and splendid bowling.
The Hyderabad Sunrisers did their homework very well. Losses in the first two games hurt them, and they approached Tuesday’s game with a rejigado XI. The induction of Kane Williamson (41 of 26) brought stability to the middle order, and also intensified the score in the slog overs.
It was a classic over limited approach, although the T20 cricket has often exploited long-standing theories. The start was slow (capped at five overs), but it helped preserve the grounds. That was crucial on a slow pitch. Captain David Warner (45 of 33) and Jonny Bairstow (53 of 48) curbed their attacking instincts against some good Delhi bowling pins from Kagiso Rabada and Ainrich Nortje. Then there was the final flourish where Williamson played a key role.
A total of 162 is not impressive, but it is enough if you can defend well. And defending well means early terrain. That is precisely what Bhuvaneshwar Kumar did. India’s pacemaker returned starter Prithvi Shaw and after that Delhi struggled to gain some momentum on a slow pitch.
So Warner played his trump card, Rashid Khan. The three forceful blows from the Afghan leg-spinner deflated Delhi, and Natarajan’s precise yorkers, the left arm closer, offered no escape. When Rishabh Pant fell in an attempt to shed the shackles, Delhi’s hopes were dashed.
The 15-race victory helped Hyderabad earn their first points and, more significantly, instilled confidence in the team. They may not be a very balanced team, but they have the ability to take down the most imaginary teams. This was just one example.
Delhi will lick his wounds and return with more intent. They have a young and talented team. But on Tuesday, they were outmatched by a team that improved their game by several points. And that will worry Delhi because it showed that they could be fragile when the going gets tough. That is not a thing for champions.
If Delhi is to win the elusive title, they need to improve their game. Especially when things are low.
