Mitchell Starc’s outstanding performance with the ball helped Delhi Capitals secure a commanding victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad, marking their second consecutive win in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday.
Starc, the left-arm quick, recorded figures of 5-35, helping Delhi bowl Hyderabad out for just 163 in 18.4 overs at their second home ground in Visakhapatnam.
South African veteran Faf du Plessis then led the charge with a blistering 50 off 27 balls. He shared an 81-run opening partnership with Australian batter Jake Fraser-McGurk, who scored 38, as Delhi comfortably chased down the target with four overs and seven wickets to spare.
Hyderabad’s innings faltered from the outset, as opener Abhishek Sharma was run out for a solitary run after a mix-up with fellow opener Travis Head. Starc then took charge, dismissing Ishan Kishan and Nitish Reddy in quick succession, followed by sending Head back for 22, leaving Hyderabad struggling at 37-4 in just 4.1 overs.
Aniket Verma, who top-scored for Hyderabad with 74, and South African wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen, who made 32 off 19 balls, mounted an aggressive recovery with a partnership of 77 runs. However, Klaasen’s innings came to an end when he was dismissed by Mohit Sharma. Verma continued his assault, scoring an eye-catching 74 off 41 balls, including five fours and six sixes.
Fraser-McGurk then produced a stunning catch at deep mid-wicket to dismiss Verma, handing Kuldeep Yadav a valuable wicket. Kuldeep, a left-arm wrist spinner, finished with impressive figures of 3-22, while Starc completed his five-wicket haul to dismiss Hyderabad and end their innings.
In reply, Du Plessis wasted no time in setting the tone for the chase, launching India’s Mohammed Shami for a six and three fours in a 15-run third over. Du Plessis was dismissed after scoring his 50, with Indian leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari picking up the wicket. Ansari later bowled KL Rahul out, but Fraser-McGurk's contributions with the bat helped Delhi reach the target, alongside Abhishek Porel, who made 34, and Tristan Stubbs, who added 21.
Delhi, under the leadership of Axar Patel, are in the process of rebuilding their squad in pursuit of their first IPL title, with England’s Kevin Pietersen serving as their mentor.
For Hyderabad, who won the IPL in 2016 under David Warner, it was a disappointing performance, leaving them with two losses and one win in three games this season.
