Dubai, Sep 23: Delhi Capitals rode on a brilliant fast bowling performance from their South African duo Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada to pulverise wooden spooners Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets as they took a giant leap towards Indian Premier League play-offs on Wednesday.
Capitals produced top-notch performance in their first match of the second phase of this year’s IPL to eke out the easy win in 17.5 overs in their pursuit of a modest 135-run target.
It was only possible after fast furious Nortje bowled at 150 clicks to finish with 2 for 12 and was ably supported Rabada and Axar Patel in a brilliant bowling effort.
Last edition’s runners-up are now well and truly in contention for clinching a play-off berth with 14 points from nine games while SRH with two points are all but out of the competition.
DC started their chase on an aggressive note with Shikhar Dhawan and young Prithvi Shaw adding 20 runs in 17 balls before the latter was caught by Kane Williamson off the bowlng of Khaleel Ahmed. Shreyas Iyer, who played the second fiddle when Dhawan was around, then took the onus on himself and upped the ante. Iyer continued to bat freely and in the company of skipper Rishabh Pant took DC home with 13 balls to spare.
Earlier, SRH put up a dismal batting performance to manage 134/9. (IANS)
Brief Scores
Sunrisers Hyderabad 134/9 (20 Ovs)
(A Samad 28, Rashid 43;
Rabada 3/37, Nortje 2/12)
Delhi Capitals
139/2 (17.5 Ovs)
(Shreyas Iyer 47*, Shikhar Dhawan 42;
Rashid Khan 1/26, Khaleel Ahmed 1/33)
