Qualifier 2, Delhi Capitals v Sunrisers Hyderabad: Talking Points

Nov 09, 2020

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After a long wait of 13 years, Delhi Capitals finally managed to enter their first-ever IPL finals as they got the better of high-flying team Sunrisers Hyderabad, who had won four games in four ahead of the Qualifier 2. Delhi will now take on Mumbai Indians on Tuesday. Here are the talking points from the game.

 

Iyer springs a surprise and opts to bat first

 DC skipper Shreyas Iyer sprung a huge surprise at the toss when he opted to bat first against SRH in Qualifier 2. Though the teams that won the toss were opting to bat first in the first half of the tournament, the onset of dew in the last few weeks has meant that the teams chasing have had a huge advantage. However, the Indian player backed his instincts and went against the trend in a do-or-die encounter. Iyer explained that the decision had been prompted majorly by the inconsistencies of SRH while chasing – and though his decision was criticized – it proved to be the right one as the Hyderabad-based team struggled in the second innings.

After being set a target of 190, the SRH innings could never gather momentum as regular wickets and a slow run rate in the middle overs increased pressure on Kane Williamson and Abdul Samad.

 

A no-ball that could have made a difference

 The on-field umpires missed a no-ball when SRH needed 29 runs to win off 11 balls. South African Kagiso Rabada bowled a high full toss at Abdul Samad, which was smashed for a six over deep square leg. However, replays suggested that it should have been a no-ball for height, with SRH skipper David Warner even raising one arm near the boundary rope, indicating that a no-ball and a free-hit should have been given.

The very next ball saw Samad being caught at long off by substitute Keemo Paul, and SRH were left ruing their luck.

 

Marcus Stoinis, Delhi’s “Hulk”

 Every time Marcus Stoinis picked up a wicket, hit a four or managed a catch, the DC camp would celebrate with the figurine of the character “Hulk”. The Australian has emerged as Delhi’s X-factor this season, and is the only player in the IPL thus far to pick up 10+ wickets and score 350+ runs. On Sunday, he was asked to open the innings after the side dropped out-of-form player Prithvi Shaw, and Stoinis did not disappoint with a quick 38 in 27 balls that set the stage for players such as Shikhar Dhawan and Shimron Hetmyer to fire.

With the ball, the player picked up 3 for 26 in just 3 overs, including the key wickets of Priyam Garg, Manish Pandey and Kane Williamson. The Australian also caught Shreevats Goswami off the bowling of Rabada at eep midwicket to cap off a memorable outing for himself and for DC.