Delhi Capitals (DC) registered a comprehensive win by eight wickets with 16 balls to spare to reclaim their spot on the top of the points table. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) continue to disappoint as they are still at the bottom of the table with just one win from eight games after posting a mediocre total of 134/9 on the board.
Fast and furious Nortje
While spinners were expected to do well in UAE, it is the fast bowlers who have been making the headlines. Nortje generated raw pace and hit troubling lines with the new ball to slow down the flow of runs. The Proteas speedster got David Warner out for a three-ball duck in his first spell and later returned to pick up the wicket of Kedar Jadhav. He gave just 12 runs from his quota of four overs and was adjudged player of the match.
Dhawan's consistent run continues
Shikhar Dhawan continued his good form in the current season scoring a 37-ball 42 in the run chase. Dhawan missed his half-century but got past 400 runs in the season to regain orange cup. This is also the sixth consecutive season in which Dhawan has crossed the 400-run mark.
Iyer's positive return
Shreyas Iyer returned to the DC lineup as a batter after recovering from injury and impressed straight away. Iyer remained unbeaten for 47 runs from 41 deliveries including two fours and two sixes. if not for Rishabh Pant's quickfire 35-run knock, Iyer would have got to his first half-century of the season. Iyer took his time to settle, looked composed in the middle and did not look in a hurry to finish the match.
The Warner problem
David Warner returned to the side as Jonny Bairstow opted out of second phase of IPL 2021. Warner failed to prove himself as he walked back to the dressing room without troubling the scorers in the first over. Nortje's pace turned out to be too much for the Aussie. It has been a tough season for Warner as he lost captaincy and then his place in the side. It will be interesting to see if Warner makes a comeback or SRH lose their patience and go with Bairstow's replacement Jason Roy as their overseas opener.
