IPL: Hyderabad regain top spot top after beating Delhi by 7 wickets

Hyderabad vs Delhi (Image - IANS)

Hyderabad, May 6 - Sunrisers Hyderabad moved closer to the playoffs of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after they defeated Delhi Daredevils by seven wickets here on Saturday for their fourth win on the trot, and a victory that drove them back to the top spot.

Teenaged sensation Prithvi Shaw's 65-run knock followed by skipper Shreyas Iyer's 44 helped Delhi post a moderate 163/5. But Hyderabad rode on useful contributions from Alex Hales (45 off 31 deliveries), Shikhar Dhawan (33 off 30), captain Kane Williamson (32 not out off 30), Yusuf Pathan (27 not out off 12) and Manish Pandey (21 off 17) to overhaul the target with seven wickets and a ball to spare.

Following the win over seventh-placed Delhi, Hyderabad have 14 points - same as Chennai Super Kings but are ahead on net run rate. For Delhi the loss could mean that their hopes for making it to the playoffs are over as they have six points from 10 games.

In the first innings at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Shaw and Iyer overcame a poor start to put together 86 runs for the second wicket after Delhi lost off-colour Glenn Maxwell cheaply.

While Shaw's knock was laced with six boundaries and three sixes off 36 balls, Iyer faced 36 deliveries, hitting three fours and couple of sixes. Opting to bat, Delhi were off to a poor start as Maxwell (2) once again failed to contribute after being run out in the second over with Delhi's score being nine runs.

Maxwell's dismissal saw Iyer joining in-form opener Shaw in the middle and the duo helped their side recover from the early jolt taking Delhi past the 50-run mark in 5.4 overs.

Read More