Rashid shines as Hyderabad bounce back to open IPL account and halt Delhi’s win streak

Mohammad Abdullah, Staff Reporter

Dubai: Afghanistan’s wily spinner Rashid Khan bowled a scintillating spell to return with figures of 3-14 and steer Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to their first win against a high-flying Delhi Capitals (DC) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match played in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Hyderabad successfully defended their total of 162/4 by restricting Delhi to 147/7 to emerge winners by 15 runs in their third match of the season after going down against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

When Rashid was introduced to the attack, Delhi were 42/1, having lost opener Prithvi Shaw with just five runs on the board. Shaw fell prey to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who claimed two wickets, conceding 25 runs in his four overs. Shikhar Dhawan and captain Shreyas Iyer knuckled down to build the innings and took the score to 42 in seven overs before Rashid struck to give Hyderabad their second scalp.

Iyer tried to hit Rashid over cover but ended up giving a simple catch to Samad. Rashid took just two deliveries to get off the mark. He bowled a superb first over, taking the prized wicket of Iyer while conceding just one run.

Two overs later, Rashid had a struggling Dhawan caught by Bairstow to reduce Delhi to 62-3. Pant along with Shimron Hetmyer added a quickfire 42 runs for the fourth wicket in 4 overs to rekindle Delhi’s hopes. Hetmyer smashed a 12-ball 20 with the help of two sixes before holing out to Pandey, giving Kumar his second scalp.

Rashid struck again in the 17th over, this time to send back the dangerous-looking Pant, who had just started to cut loose. Pant was caught by Garg to become the third victim of wily Rashid after scoring a fighting 32 off 27 deliveries, hitting two fours and two sixes.

Earlier, Sunrisers Hyderabad started off decently as both the openers Warner and Bairstow played watchfully, not losing any wicket in the first power play.

They looked little cautious in the beginning, being aware of the fact that they don’t have much depth in their batting. Playing safely but soundly the duo took the score to 77-1 in 9.3 overs, frustrating the decorated Delhi attack.

Warner flexed his muscle in the fifth over when he hit Nortje for the first six of the match over extra cover. Amit Mishra, who was then brought into the attack, gave Delhi their first breakthrough when he got rid of the Hyderabad captain. Warner edged a ball straight into the hands of wicketkeeper Pant while trying a sweep shot.

While the umpire turned down the appeal a convinced Pant decided to go for a DRS. The snickometer showed the ball had rubbed off the gloves of Warner before landing in the safe hands of Pant. Warner hit three boundaries and two sixes in his 33-ball knock.

In his next over, Mishra had Manish Pandey caught by Rabada, bringing Delhi back into the game.

Kane Williamson, who returned to the fold for the first time this season, made his impact on the game. He shared a 52-run partnership with Bairstow for the third wicket. The pair took the score to 114-3 in 18 overs before Bairstow holed out to Nortje off Rabada after smashing a 48-ball 53. Williamson, who hit five boundaries during his 26-ball 41, was caught by Patel off Rabada as the South African pacer returned with figures of 2-21 off his four overs.