Saturday’s results
Match 1: Delhi beat Mumbai by 10 runs
Match 2: Hyderabad beat Punjab by 5 wickets
Two mid-table teams in IPL 9 improved their standings as Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad advanced at the expense of Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab respectively on Saturday.
The Twenty20 format and the Indian Premier League by extension remains a batsmen-friendly version but the runs still need to be scored and the margins of error can be minimal. In the ninth edition of IPL, only one captain is a bowler, another a wicketkeeper while the rest are led by batsmen.
Former India international Zaheer Khan not only chipped in with his bowling acumen a shrewd decisions, but he showed quick reflexes with his arm to derail Mumbai’s run chase at a crucial moment as Delhi won by 10 runs for their third win on the trot.
“Exceptional death bowling and execution of plans helped us win. The bowlers are working hard at training to improve. Good to see them pull that off today,” Delhi’s JP Duminy said after the match.
“Most teams are winning while chasing, so it feels good to defend a score. The middle period was very important too.”
Delhi had posted a fighting 164 for four with the help of Sanju Samson’s 60 and Duminy’s 49 not out. Mumbai were seemingly coasting with Rohit Sharma (65) and Krunal Pandya (36) shifting gears in the middle overs when Zaheer fielded a ball from his own bowling, turned around in a flash and caught Krunal short.
That was the second of three run-outs and Mumbai went from 103 for two to 154 for seven with the spinners restricting their batting. Captain Rohit was the third after being involved in a mishap running between the wickets in the end stages.
“The plan was to bowl in the right areas and use variations on this track,” Zaheer added.
In the second game, Kings XI Punjab laboured to 143 for six with the help of Shaun Marsh (40) and Axar Patel (36 not out).
But a 90-run start from Hyderabad openers David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan ensured victory by five wickets despite a flurry of dismissals towards the end.
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