NEWS
Follow UsSunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) failed to chase down 145 against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Monday (April 24) to succumb to their third consecutive defeat of the season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. Skipper Aiden Markram at the post-match presentation had said that the team lacked intent to drive them home. Head coach Brian Lara agrees with his skipper.
“There were no devils in the pitch, and we could have been more proactive throughout the innings,” Lara told reporters after the game.
“We left everything too late. I prefer if my batters are a bit more enterprising and take advantage in PowerPlay. We allowed them to take wickets in the middle and cramp us."
Lara said that SRH could have been in a better position after 15 overs. They were 89 for 5 with five overs left with Heinrich Klaasen (31) and Washington Sundar (24*) having faced just seven deliveries between them at that point. The duo would go on to give SRH some hope putting on 41 runs in quick time, but in the end, it was too much for them.
“The first 15 overs were crucial and we should have been in a much better position. With the fast bowlers coming back, we could get 12 or 13 per over but these guys – Ishant Sharma, Mukesh [Kumar] and [Anrich] Nortje are professionals and they put the balls in the right areas," Lara noted.
“However, we should have chased down that total comfortably. Our bowlers did a good job and our batters needed to do a better job.
“But moving on, we have seven games left and need to regroup quickly. Our backs are against the wall, and there is no doubt about that and we need to take more responsibility moving forward."
As far as DC were concerned, they huffed and puffed to 144, but their spinners, led by Kuldeep Yadav (1 for 22) and Axar Patel (2 for 21), madeKuldeep Yadav (1 for 22) and Axar Patel (2 for 21) who made life difficult for the SRH batters. Kuldeep was all praise for his side's bowlers.
“We bowled well in the powerplay. Axar and I kept it tight in the middle and that helped us keep the pressure on them and we also never gave any easy boundaries. For us it is important to back ourselves and keep bowling in the right areas,” Kuldeep said.
He also lauded his skipper David Warner. DC opted to bat first and Kuldeep puts that down to the years of experience Warner has had playing in Hyderabad.
“He has played here for seven years. He knows the conditions well and that’s why he opted to bat first," Kuldeep said.
“Wicket was slow and he thought it probably is difficult to chase. As a bowling unit, he believed in us. He gave freedom to each and everyone."
DC, who had lost their first five matches, won two in a row, while SRH have lost three on the bounce after winning two of their first four games. Incidentally, the two teams clash against each other in their next game in Delhi on Saturday (April 29).
