IPL 2023 DC Vs SRH: Axar Patel saves Capitals’ boat, Sunrisers loose by 7 runs

Playing their seventh match in the 16th season of the Indian Premier League at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on 22 April, its was situation of do or die for both Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals.

After winning the toss, Delhi Capitals skipper David Warner chose to bat first against Sunrisers. He is the first captain to opt to bat in Hyderabad in IPL 2023.

Perhaps, citing the pitch report, which says Hyderabad to be high-scoring track, Warner took the decision. But, when asked to Sunrisers’ skipper what he would have done, Aiden Markram said that Sunrisers wanted to bowl first anyway.

DC Innings:

Opening the innings in Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals’ batting order showed the same disappointing start and began on a upsetting note. Opener Philip Salt went back for a golden duck as SRH’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar showed him the way to pavilion in the very first over.

Following this, DC skipper David Warner and Mitchell Marsh tried to build a partnership, but SRH’s pacer T Natarajan dismissed Marsh in the 5th over, who had scored 25 runs in 15 balls.

Post powerplay, Warner tried to pace up the game, Washington Sundar has joined the party and removed David Warner for 21 in the 8th over.

After this, DC sent Sarfaraz Khan (10) to hit some good runs a set a respectable score for the opponents to chase, but was sent back by Washington Sundar in the 8th over. In the same over, Sundar clicked another wicket of Aman Khan (4). But the end of 8 overs, DC’s score was 62/5.

Understanding the situation, Pandey and Axar took hold of the game, and set a partnership. When it appeared that DC will set a good score, Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Patel (34) in the 18th over. Soon the batting order stated to collapse again, as Pandey was runout Washington Sundar. By the end of 20 overs, Warner-led Delhi Capitals managed to score 144 runs after losing 9 wickets. SRH now need 145 runs to chase at 7.25 rpo. 

Post the disastrous start, DC sent Manish Pandey and Axar Patel to bat. Until 10 overs were completed, the DC somehow managed to put 72 runs after losing 5 wickets.

For SRH, Washington Sundar clicked 3 wickets, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked 2 and T Natarajan clinched one wicket.

SRH’s Innings: 

Chasing a target of 145 set by the Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers’ batting line up too had a sturdy start. Opener Harry Brook (7) was shown the way to pavilion by Anrich Nortje in the 6th over.

Though Mayank Agarwal stood firm on the pitch and tried maintaining the tempo of the game. On the other side, Sunrisers kept losing wickets in quick succession, as Capitals’ bowling attack made batting tough for the home team.

Rahul Tripathi (15) was dismissed Ishant Sharma in the 13th over, Abhishek Sharma (5) was bowled and caught by Kuldeep Yadav in the 14th over and skipper Aiden Markram (3) was dismissed by Axar Patel. Prior to that Patel also showed set batter Mayank Agarwal (49) the way to pavilion in the 12th over.

However, Heinrich Klaasen and Washington Sundar took the responsibility on their shoulders and set an important partnership for the Sunrisers. But, Heinrich Klaasen (31) lost his wicket to Anrich Nortje in the 19the over. By the end of 20 over, Sunrisers’ batters managed to score only 137 runs after losing 6 wickets and lost by 7 runs to Capitals. 

For Capitals, Anrich Nortje and Axar Patel took 2 wickets each, while Ishant Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav picked one each.

With this win, Delhi Capitals equaled its tally with Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL points table. Now both the teams — SRH and DC — have 4 points each, with both played 7 matches, winning 2 and losing 5. However, SRH’s net runrate is still higher than DC, due to which DC still remains at the bottom on the points table.