IPL: Hyderabad's bowlers prove too hot to handle for Delhi

All six Sunrisers bowlers weigh in with at least one wicket as Daredevils beaten by six wickets.

Dale Steyn, pictured playing for Deccan Chargers last year, took two wickets for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in their win over the Delhi Daredevils.

A bowling display of sustained quality against a batting line-up that went spectacularly bust produced a six-wicket win for Sunrisers Hyderabad over Delhi Daredevils.

Each of the six bowlers that Kumar Sangakkara, the Hyderabad captain, tossed the ball to conceded less than a run per ball, and had at least one wicket.

It was not surprising, then, that Delhi were shot out for just 80 in 19.1 overs, with Unmukt Chand's chancy 17 the highest score.

It was the lowest total in the 2013 IPL, and the fourth lowest in IPL history.Delhi also lowered their previous mark of 83, which had come against Chennai Super Kings on April 17.

Hyderabad achieved the target in 13.5 overs, a few more than they would have expected to have needed, but enough to go back into the top three with 14 points and also give their net run-rate a nudge northwards.

In four previous matches at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, the closest a team batting first had come to winning was when Royal Challengers Bangalore lost in a Super Over finish on April 7.

The lessons from those four defeats were ignored by Mahela Jayawardene, Delhi's captain, who chose to bat first. Delhi's first two overs produced only one scoring shot - an edged four by Jayawardene off Dale Steyn. Ishant Sharma started with a maiden, and the tone of the match was set.

Jayawardene (11 off 12) and Virender Sehwag (8 off 17) were gone when David Warner, who had been Delhi's best batsman in the season, walked out at No 4 to join Chand.

But the spinner Amit Mishra, who had already fooled Warner with a delivery only to see Hanuma Vihari drop the chance, got his man with another googly to give Parthiv Patel an easy stumping after Warner had rushed out of the crease.

That strike, which left Delhi 52 for four in 11.2 overs, was the most pivotal of the innings, and killed hope of a resurgence. Though Hyderabad lost four wickets, the low total ensured that the chase was headed only one way.

Saurabh Somani is an assistant editor at Wisden India.

Follow us