For a format touted as tailor-made for batsmen, the game between Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad here on Friday was all about the bowlers.
Though SH is clearly the stronger side in that department, ironically, the difference between victory and defeat was the inability of DD batsmen to fire and the ability of a couple of SH bowlers to swing the bat.
DD’s 23-year-old left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem, who stood out with his bowling and fielding against SH, understands that his team has been losing close games with the bat. Against SH, DD lost its fourth straight match, despite Virender Sehwag’s return.
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“We have not been doing enough with the bat. On Friday we scored 114. If we had made around 135-140, we could have had the match in our hands,” Nadeem admitted.
“We have a good side but unfortunately could not score. Three of the four games so far were close matches that we lost right at the end. Even Sunrisers struggled to score. We fought well but one or two tighter overs in the middle would have done the trick for us,” Nadeem added.
The DD bowlers did try their best and for a while it looked like they would be able to restrict SH but the total they had was too little — even against a team like SH that doesn’t bat too deep. Unfortunately, the man who eventually ensured SH its third success in four games was not someone who was expected to shine with the bat — Amit Mishra.
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“I’ve been working hard on my batting in the last two years because in a match like today, it was important and I’m glad it helped today,” Mishra said. “Pressure builds when two-three wickets fall quickly, so it’s important to hold on. Today we were under pressure after the quick wickets,” Mishra said.
He was quick to credit his pace bowlers for the victory. “Dale Steyn and Ishant Sharma are world-class bowlers. They take two-three wickets early on, which makes it easier for the rest of us,” Mishra said.