An ordinary game turned into a nail-bitter when Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) managed to pull off a Super Over against Delhi Capitals (DC). Having set a target of 160 runs after a fifty from Prithvi Shaw and crucial thirties from Rishabh Pant and Steve Smith, DC’s bowlers pulled off a brilliant performance after Jonny Bairstow had given SRH a flying start. Although the inexperienced middle-order of SRH had botched up the chase, the game ended with a super-over, but the Capitals emerged victoriously.
After winning the toss, Rishabh Pant opted to bat on the dry surface at Chennai. Prithvi Shaw started the game with a hat-trick of boundaries off Khaleel Ahmed. While Shikhar Dhawan, who was dropped at 5 by Kedar Jadhav, got into his elements with consecutive fours off the left arm finger-spin of Jagadeesha Suchith and Delhi Capitals extended their opening partnership to 80, but then Rashid got the wicket of Dhawan. However, Shaw kept on smashing the bowlers before gifting his wicket soon: getting run-out thanks to a horrible mix-up.
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Shaw’s 39-ball 53 had given Delhi the right platform, but two wickets toned down the things. Steve Smith and Pant partnered for a 58-run third-wicket stand. Pant (37 off 24) capitalized on the life given to him for a couple of overs, Siddharth Kaul, who also got the wicket of Shimron Hetmyer (1 off 2) before Smith picked a four and six off Ahmed in the final over to set 160 for his rivals. Bairstow had only gotten off the mark when Shimron Hetmyer dropped him off Ravi Ashwin.
To add insult to injury, Bairstow took on Marcus Stoinis in the next over made Hetmyer regret his fault instantly. In a raging mood, he attacked both spinners – Ashwin and Axar Patel. Some respite came DC’s way when Avesh Khan got him caught at mid-on for an 18-ball 38. After Bairstow’s exit, contributing only 4 off 14 in the 28-run stand with Kane Williamson, Virat Singh holed Avesh Khan out to mid-wicket.
WATCH – Prithvi Shaw Tosses Helmet After Being Runout, Twitter Reacts
SRH were soon double jolted after the time-out as Axar Patel pinned both Abhishek and Rashid lbw off successive deliveries. Walking inside on a tricky surface and trickier pitch, Suchith struck two fours in the same over, followed by a six in the last over bowled by Rabada to take the game into the first Super Over of the edition.
Super Over drama
It was no surprise that two spinners – Axar and Rashid – operated in the Super Over on a tricky pitch. Giving only a solitary boundary, the Delhi Capitals spinner tied down Warner and Williamson to just 7 runs. A couple of singles brought pressure on DC’s contenders: Dhawan and Pant. The latter’s reverse-sweep went for four but a dot ball left the Capitals with one needed off the last ball, which the duo managed to seal the Super Over.
Here’s how Twitter reacted after DC’s super-over win:
🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️ one short 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️ another super over .. now that would have been awesome 😃😃 #VIVOIPL #SRHvDC
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) April 25, 2021
Game of inches.. run short will give #srh a few sleepless nights #DCvSRH
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) April 25, 2021
Bold decision to Bowl a Spinner 👏🏼👍🏼 #SRHvsDC
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) April 25, 2021
Surely @jbairstow21 should be opening in this super over!!!!! #IPL
— Luke Wright (@lukewright204) April 25, 2021
Why is Bairstow not batting in this super over for @SunRisers !! Best top order batter in the world at the moment #IPL2021
— Nick Compton (@thecompdog) April 25, 2021
Goat #KaneWilliamson 😊✊✊ @IPL
— Rahul Sharma (@ImRahulSharma3) April 25, 2021
Hey let’s super go to bed and pretend like this isn’t a thing
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) April 25, 2021
Unless Bairstow was in toilet, can't get why would he not be your first choice in a #SuperOver when he scored 38 of 18 in the main innings and looked the cleanest hitter. Baffling, Hyderabad fought well but have only themselves to blame for strange decisions. #SRHvsDC
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) April 25, 2021
#KaneWilliamson is so pleasing to the eyes. It seems like he is doing nothing but his impact is enormous! #DCvsSRH #VIVOIPL
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) April 25, 2021
What a game. Well done @DelhiCapitals for winning this thriller. @akshar2026 was amazing in a come back game.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 25, 2021
Williamson's master class in vain. But, credit to @RishabhPant17 for taking the lead in Super over. What a finish!
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) April 25, 2021
If it wasn't a short run, we could have seen another super over and shows the importance of new rule in #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/HLw2PXXlNr
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) April 25, 2021
At this rate Kane Williamson will retire from Super Overs.#TweetsThatDontMakeSense #okbye
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 25, 2021