A brilliant batting effort backed up an equally good bowling performance has helped Delhi Capitals overcome Kane Williamson’s masterclass to book their spot in the 2020 IPL finals alongside defending champions, Mumbai Indians.
Defending 190, Delhi Capitals had the best possible start that they would have imagined. Kagiso Rabada cleaned up David Warner with an inswinging yorker to land a body-blow to the ‘Orange Army’ before Marcus Stoinis knocked over Priyam Garg (17 off 12 balls) besides claiming the dangerous Manish Pandey (21 off 14 balls) to leave SRH three down in the first powerplay.
Jason Holder and Kane Williamson tried to weather the storm to take the total to 75 after 10 over. But with 115 still needed off the last 60, SunRisers Hyderabad needed the duo to shift gears.
Williamson smashed a six off Rabada in the 11th over before taking Axar Patel downtown for another six over his head in the next. Jason Holder (11 off 15 balls) tried to emulate Williamson but he failed to connect with the stroke and eventually holed out to Praveen Dubey at mid-wicket.
Williamson, however, continued to go along his merry way as he clipped Marcus Stoinis for another six in the next over to take the total past 100. The Kiwi skipper compiled his half-century in the next over and he celebrated that with a boundary towards third-man.
But with 77 needed off the last six overs, Williamson needed the likes of Abdul Samad to share some of the workload. And, Samad showed signs of it courtesy a disdainful pull-stroke, ferocious square-cut, and a hoike over wide point for a six and a couple of fours off Anrich Nortje to relieve some of the pressure.
The duo soon brought up their 50-run-stand in just 27 balls but SRH needed a sustained onslaught from the duo with the equation getting boiled down to 47 off the last 21. Williamson [67 off 45 balls] carved Stoinis for another boundary over point but his masterclass eventually came to an end as he holed out to Rabada at sweeper-cover.
Rashid Khan smashed Ashwin for a four and a six in the 18th over to bring the equation down to 30 off 12 balls. Abdul Samad backed it up with another six in the next over bowled by Kagiso Rabada but the fast bowler eventually had the last laugh as he dismissed Samad [33 off 16 balls] and Rashid on successive deliveries before following it up with the wicket of Shreevats Goswami to effectively kill the run-chase.
Shikhar Dhawan led the charge as Delhi Capitals hammered SunRisers Hyderabad to the tune of 3-189
Batting first, Delhi Capitals made a tactical punt where they slotted Marcus Stoinis at the top of the order.
And, the move almost backfired when Sandeep Sharma nearly strangled the Australian all-rounder into the trap set for him, only for Jason Holder to drop a tough chance at short mid-wicket. Stoinis (38 off 27 balls) responded by smashing five 4s and a six in the next 9 balls he faced off Sandeep and Jason Holder to race to 30 off just 16 balls.
That dropped catch proved to be a fillip for the Delhi Capitals as boundaries continued to pour from both sides. Shikhar Dhawan smashed a couple of boundaries in the next over of Sandeep Sharma to bring up the 50-run-stand in just 29 balls.
David Warner introduced Shahbaz Nadeem in the attack to bowl the 6th over but clearly, the move didn’t work as Shikhar Dhawan smoked the SLA for a six and a four on the first two balls as DC raced to 0-65.
That the SunRisers Hyderabad were clearly rattled by the onslaught was testified in the very next over of Rashid Khan when the leg-spinner, in a reflex action, threw the ball at the batsman’s end, only to see it race past the boundary line.
The onslaught was eventually ended by the superstar Rashid Khan, who knocked over Marcus Stoinis with a quick straighter delivery, which went on to dislodge the top of off-stump. Dhawan, however, continued to take the attack to Nadeem as he completed yet another half-century (off just 26 balls) with a slog sweep for a six.
While Shikhar Dhawan (78 off 50 balls) was going hammer and tongs, Shreyas Iyer struggled to keep pace with the southpaw and he was eventually dismissed for a 20-ball 21 while trying to up the ante in the 15th over.
But Nadeem’s day continued to get from bad to worse. After being taken for nine runs in the 15th over, he proceeded to bowl another no-ball, eventually ending his spell that read: 0-48.
Delhi Capitals promoted Shimron Hetmyer ahead of Rishabh Pant and once again the move worked as the southpaw laid into SRH’s bowling-unit from the outset. After proceeding to hit T Natarajan for a six over covers, Hetmyer smashed Holder for consecutive boundaries before Dhawan nonchalantly flicked the West Indian for another four to bring up his 600-run mark for the season.
Hetmyer (42* off 22 balls) followed it up with another four on the last delivery to take 18 runs from the 18th over, taking the total to 2-176. But Dhawan’s dismissal in the penultimate bowler by Sandeep Sharma and a brilliant final over by T Natarajan (7 runs) ensured that DC managed just 13 runs in the last 12 balls to eventually finish at 3-189.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to DC’s win over SRH-
Boys we did it ???@DelhiCapitals finally made it to the finals!!
I’m overwhelmed with joy right now! Maximum team effort!! What a wonderful, well deserved win!! ??
On to the next one!! ? #DelhiCapitals #SRHvsDC
— Ishant Sharma (@ImIshant) November 8, 2020
Absolutely fantastic for @ShreyasIyer15 to lead @DelhiCapitals into the first-ever #IPL2020 final is a terrific achievement for a young man who has really come into his own in the last five years since he made his debut in 2015 #DCvSRH #cricket #YehHaiNayiDilli #DelhiCapitals
— Chandresh Narayanan (@chand2579) November 8, 2020
Maiden appearance in IPL final for eight original franchises#RR, #CSK – 2008
Deccan Chargers, RCB – 2009#MI – 2010#KKR – 2012#KXIP – 2014
Delhi Daredevils/Capitals – 2020#IPL2020 #Qualifier2— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) November 8, 2020
Maiden appearance in IPL final for eight original franchises#RR, #CSK – 2008
Deccan Chargers, RCB – 2009#MI – 2010#KKR – 2012#KXIP – 2014
Delhi Daredevils/Capitals – 2020#IPL2020 #Qualifier2— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) November 8, 2020
Congrats @DelhiCapitals
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) November 8, 2020
Abdul Samad gonna be a special & Big player in future.. played some brilliant shots today specially that pull shot against Nortje @SunRisers vs @DelhiCapitals @IPL2020 @IPL
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) November 8, 2020
It all looked possible at once. At the end of the day, the boys gave it their all!#DCvSRH #OrangeArmy #KeepRising
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) November 8, 2020
FIRST IPL FINAL AFTER WAITING SINCE 2008! Well done @DelhiCapitals ?
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) November 8, 2020
Finally Delhi get to feature in an #IPL final!!!#DCvSRH #SRHvsDC #IPL2020
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) November 8, 2020
This is the seventh time in Kagiso Rabada's professional career that he's taken three wickets in the same over. #IPL2020 #DCvSRH
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) November 8, 2020
Most wickets in an IPL season
32 Dwayne Bravo (2013) #CSK
29 Kagiso Rabada (2020) #DC *
28 Lasith Malinga (2011) #MI
28 James Faulkner (2013) #RR
27 Jasprit Bumrah (2020) #MI #Qualifier2 #IPL2020— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) November 8, 2020
Williamson has a map of the field fitted in his brain.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) November 8, 2020
But.. but..
Williamson and Samad have made their highest scores of this season in this game now.
Can they get @SunRisers cross the line?#IPL2020 #DCvSRH https://t.co/4edCvEH9VU
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) November 8, 2020
Abdul Samad has hit 5 sixes this IPL:
2 vs Norje
2 vs Bumrah
1 vs Cummins#IPL2020 #DCvSRH— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) November 8, 2020
Pristine. Classy. Calm. Calculated. Cool. Williamson!#SRHvsDC #DCvSRH
— Yash ?? (@im_yash2307) November 8, 2020
Two 50+ scores in IPL knockouts/play-offs
Dwayne Smith (2013)
Suresh Raina (2014)
Lendl Simmons (2015)
David Warner (2016)
Shane Watson (2019)
Kane Williamson (2020) *#IPL2020 #DCvSRH— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) November 8, 2020
Kane Williamson playing superb hand. Don’t know if it can help #SRH win match, but good to watch as long as it lasts
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) November 8, 2020
IPL2020 final gonna be @mipaltan vs @DelhiCapitals
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) November 8, 2020
Death.
Taxes.
Rabada hitting the stumps.???? ?????? ????? ?????? ??#DCvSRH #Dream11IPL #YehHaiNayiDilli pic.twitter.com/ATzWUBnXA0
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) November 8, 2020
-Nadeem’s most expensive IPL figures
-Holder’s most expensive IPL figures
-Warner’s lowest IPL score since 2016
Not SRH’s night so far! #DCvSRH #IPL2020
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) November 8, 2020
Most wickets for DC in an IPL Season
Rabada – 25 (2020)*
Rabada – 25 (2019)
Morkel – 25 (2012)#RCBvsDC— CricBeat (@Cric_beat) November 2, 2020
Rohit Sharma – 0(1) and Kieron Pollard – 0(2) but Mumbai Indians made 200 for 5 from 20 overs vs Rabada, Nortje bowling unit.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 5, 2020
That Rabada yorker really broke my 2 year old No fap journey but it was worth it
— Akki (@CrickPotato) November 8, 2020
Manish Pandey is so good to watch
— Shai Hope (@shaidhope) November 8, 2020
In a tournament where Bumrah, Cummins, Boult, Rabada are playing Natarajan has bowled the most yorkers. Remarkably consistent
— Venkata Krishna B (@venkatatweets) November 8, 2020
Great come back by bowlers in the last 2 overs ! Not even A single boundary scored hats off natrajan and @sandeep25a pressure game execution to the point ! @SDhawan25 man in form but naam to jatt ji hai ? how bout drs bro ? ?♂️??♂️ as usual must have forgotten ? game on #DCvSRH
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) November 8, 2020
Never seen an uncapped fast bowler bowl as many perfect yorkers as #natarajan in the ipl. #bahotaalaa
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) November 8, 2020
Joy watching @SDhawan25 bat today.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 8, 2020
Delhi Capitals' innings:
First 10 overs – 102 runs, 14 boundaries
Last 10 overs – 87 runs, 7 boundaries#IPL2020 #DCvSRH— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) November 8, 2020
Batsmen with 600+ runs in #IPL2020:
KL Rahul
Shikhar DhawanHe finishes on a 50-ball 72 today ⭐️#DCvSRH pic.twitter.com/zL0428EDvE
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) November 8, 2020
So far, everything that @SunRisers have touched, has turned to dust. They will think it can only get better.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 8, 2020
dhawan has been exceptional this season not just at the top of the order but also in the commercial breaks #SRHvsDC #IPL2020
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) November 8, 2020
Did I see a batsman Walk for an LBW , and it’s missing the stumps ??♂️ , am I seeing what I am seeing .. #IPL2020 #SRHvsDC
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) November 8, 2020
77.8% of catching opportunities in #IPL2020 have been taken, the second lowest for any IPL season and the lowest since 2010. #DCvSRH
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) November 8, 2020
Jason Holder this IPL
vs DC: 8 overs | 2 wkts | ER 12.00
vs other teams: 20 overs | 12 wkts | ER 6.85#Qualifier2 #DCvSRH— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) November 8, 2020
Jason Holder most expensive bowling this season:
4-50-1 v DC (Qualifier 2)
4-46-1 v DC (Group Stage)#IPL2020 #DCvSRH— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) November 8, 2020
Number of called no-balls from spinners in recent IPL seasons:
2015 – 1
2016 – 9
2017 – 6
2018 – 3
2019 – 5
2020 – 11The introduction of TV checks has seemingly increased the number of no-balls from spinners being called.#IPL2020 #DCvSRH
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) November 8, 2020
Cricket at its best… one team came with 5 straight wins and the other with exact opposite outcome. But what you do on a given day really matters! #ProGyaan #IPL2020 #Qualifier2 #DCvsSRH
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) November 8, 2020
Most runs in an IPL season for Shikhar Dhawan
570*for Delhi Capitals in 2020
569 for Deccan Chargers in 2012
521 for Delhi Capitals in 2019
501 for Sun Risers Hyderabad in 2016#IPL2020 #DCvSRH pic.twitter.com/PIdMee5g7z— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) November 8, 2020
Seen very few batsmen more resilient than Shikhar Dhawan. ???#SRHvsDC
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) November 8, 2020
RASHHIIIIDDDD!!! FINALLYYYY!!! ??
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) November 8, 2020
Most bowled & LBW wickets in IPL 2020:
10 – Bumrah
9 – Nortje
9 – Rashid Khan
7 – Chahal#IPL2020 #DCvSRH— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) November 8, 2020
These “crowd” reactions ?? #IPL2020
— Shai Hope (@shaidhope) November 8, 2020
Marcus Stoinis Batting Average v Seamers in T20:
v LA – 37.81
v RA – 31.86Natarajan's angle in and of itself shouldn't be an issue for Stoinis.#IPL2020 #DCvSRH
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) November 8, 2020
What a difference one ball makes. 12-0 in 2.3 when Holder put Stoinis down. Had to be Rashid to pull it back but @DelhiCapitals have gone too far ahead
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 8, 2020
Shahbaz Nadeem is the only SRH spinner to bowl in the Powerplay this season. He has bowled four overs, taking one wicket, and going at 9rpo. #IPL2020 #DCvSRH
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) November 8, 2020
Rashid Khan vs DC in #IPL2020
Abu Dhabi, 29 Sep: 4-0-14-3
Dubai, 27 Oct: 4-0-7-3Combined figures: 8-0-21-6 (ER 2.63)#Qualifier2
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) November 8, 2020
Only two opening stands against SRH this IPL:
90 by Finch-Padikkal in the opening game
50* by Stoinis-Dhawan in this game. #IPL2020 #DCvSRH
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) November 8, 2020
https://twitter.com/cricvizanalyst/status/1325445748507414528?s=19
Unless there is a #DelhiCapitals collapse (which is mostly round the corner), Ajinkya Rahane doesn't get to bat today after this quick start. #DCvSRH #IPL2020
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) November 8, 2020
Agree with Simon Doull, Natarajan or even Rashid Khan could have bowled the sixth over considering how well DC have started. Warner gave the ball to Shahbaz instead. #IPL2020 #DCvSRH
— Jay (@bhavsarJ2_0) November 8, 2020
Marcus Stoinis was dropped on 3.
His next nine balls ? #DCvSRH #IPL2020
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) November 8, 2020
This start by Marcus Stoinis could make a massive difference to the DC dugout. Settle the nerves of a seriously low on confidence batting side. Bold move, but seems like the right one. #DCvsSRH #IPL2020
— Raunak Kapoor (@RaunakRK) November 8, 2020
Marcus Stoinis has an excellent record as an opener. But it is ironic that in spite of having so many options, @DelhiCapitals have had to change things at this stage.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 8, 2020