IPL 2018, SRH vs DD: 5 Reasons why Delhi Daredevils lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad clashed against Delhi Daredevils tonight at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad and this game turned out to be a cliffhanger as Sunrisers Hyderabad managed to pull off a victory in the last over.

With this victory, Sunrisers Hyderabad has moved up to the No. 1 position in the points table, whereas Delhi Daredevils are virtually out of the tournament.

In a game that ebbed and flowed, let us look at five reasons why Delhi Daredevils lost the contest.

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#5 Terrible last over by Dan Christian

Christian's last over was disatrous

With 14 runs in the bank and with heavy experience in T20 cricket, Dan Christian was handed over the responsibility to bowl the last over.

He started off the over well by conceding only two runs to Yusuf Pathan. With 12 runs needed off five balls, he bowled a full toss which Pathan deposited straight down the ground for a huge six.

He followed it up with another dreadful short ball to which Pathan hooked it for a boundary. This sealed the deal for Sunrisers as they finished the formalities in the next two deliveries.

#4 Yusuf Pathan’s dropped catch

Pathan was given a second life by Vijay Shankar

32 runs were required in the last three overs and Manish Pandey was dismissed off the first ball of the 18th over.

Pathan was greeted with a short delivery by Liam Plunkett, which was pulled straight to the deep backward square to be dropped by Vijay Shankar.

This was a relatively easy chance and it was grassed by Shankar that proved to be costly as Pathan ended up with a match-winning knock of 27 in just 12 balls.

#3 Alex Hales blistering sixes against Avesh Khan

Avesh Khan conceded 27 runs in the sixth over

The first five overs of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s chase yielded only 34 runs. However, the sixth over shifted the momentum towards the batting side as Alex Hales threw caution to the wind against Avesh Khan.

This over yielded 27 runs with three huge sixes from Hales and one six from Shikhar Dhawan of a free hit. This over swung the momentum towards the home team thanks to some blistering strokeplay by the Englishman.

#2 Rishab Pant’s innings

Pant had a tough day in the office

Shreyas Iyer was dismissed in the 16th over and the onus was on Rishab Pant to take the team to a good score.

Pant failed to read the slow pitch and swung hard at every ball he faced. This ensured he had more misses instead of hits.

He could only strike one boundary in his entire innings that too thanks to a misfield by Dhawan. He was dismissed by Rashid Khan trying to pull one short but only to be trapped right in front.

He huffed and puffed for his 18 of 19 balls and this turned out to be a match losing innings.

#1 Failing to capitalise after a good start

Shaw helped Delhi get off to a good start

Delhi Daredevils got off to a racy start thanks to some brilliant hitting by Prithvi Shaw. The young gun blazed away to a 50 off just 25 balls and Delhi was placed to score a minimum of 190 in 20 overs.

They were placed at 95/1 in 10 overs, post which they lost their way. Shaw was dismissed on the first ball of the 11th over to a poor shot of Rashid Khan.

Pant and Iyer looked rusty throughout and some tight bowling by Sunrisers Hyderabad ensured the boundaries were hard to come by.

They could manage only 69 runs in the last 10 overs and lost all the momentum they had after the halfway mark. This has to be considered as one of the main reason for Delhi’s loss.