Team Delhi, led by Shreyas Iyer emerged victorious by a margin of two wickets against Hyderabad in the Eliminator of the twelfth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Here are the highlights:
# Delhi win by two wickets!
# Keemo Paul scores a boundary off the fifth delivery of the over clinching victory for his side as Delhi finish on 165/8 (19.5 overs)
# Trent Boult is the new man in!
# Wicket! Amit Mishra departs for 1 run after being adjudged out for obstructing a throw from Khaleel Ahmed while completing a run. Delhi 161/8 (19.4 overs)
# Need 2 runs from three deliveries!
# Dot delivery following a slow bouncer, Delhi need 3 runs from 4 deliveries!
# Need 3 runs from 5 deliveries!
# Khaleel Ahmed to bowl the 20th over!
# Need 5 runs from 6 deliveries!
# Amit Mishra is the new man in!
# Wicket! Rishabh Pant departs for 49 runs off 21 deliveries off a slower delivery as he attempts to go for a big hit, handing a second catch to Muhammad Nabi. Delhi 158/7 (18.5 overs)
# Need 5 runs from 8 deliveries!
# Keemo Paul is the new man in!
# Wicket! Sherfane Rutherford dismissed for 9 runs off 12 deliveries as he attempts to go for a big hit off a slower delivery, resulting in a top edge to Muhammad Nabi. Delhi 151/6 (18.1 overs)
# Bhuvneshwar Kumar to bowl his final over!
# 22 runs from the over, as Rishabh Pant smashes two sixes and boundaries apiece to help Delhi reach 151/5 (18 overs)
# Basil Thampi to bowl the 18th over!
# Need 34 runs from 18 deliveries!
# 8 runs from the over, as Sherfane Rutherford hits the ball over deep long-off for a six, Delhi 129/5 (17 overs)
# Bhuvneshwar Kumar to bowl his third over!
# Need 42 runs from 24 deliveries!
# 10 runs from Nabi's final over, Delhi 121/5 (16 overs)
# Muhammad Nabi to bowl his final over!
# Need 52 runs from 30 deliveries!
# Maiden over for Rashid Khan, Delhi 111/5 (15 overs)
# Sherfane Rutherford is the new man in!
# Wicket! Axar Patel dismissed for 0 runs off 2 deliveries as he edges the ball to wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha who makes no mistakes. Delhi 111/5 (14.4 overs)
# Akshar Patel is the new man in!
# Wicket! Colin Munro departs for 14 runs off 13 deliveries as he is adjudged lbw following a fuller and flatter delivery by the spinner. Delhi 111/4 (14.1 overs)
# Rashid Khan to bowl his final over!
# 12 runs off the over, as Colin Munro hits the ball over deep backward square stands. Delhi 111/3 (14 overs)
# Basil Thampi to bowl his third over!
# 12 runs off the next two overs bowled by Muhammad Nabi and Rashid Khan. Nabi concedes ten runs off his third over following a six by Rishabh Pant over long-on. Khan concedes two runs off his third over. Delhi 99/3 (13 overs)
# Colin Munro is the new man in!
# Wicket! Prithvi Shaw departs for 56 runs off 38 deliveries as he top edges a slower delivery from Ahmed to Vijay Shankar who completes the catch. Delhi 87/3 (11 overs)
# Rishabh Pant is the new man in!
# Wicket! Shreyas Iyer departs for 8 runs off 10 deliveries as he bowls a slow delivery which the Delhi skipper nicks to wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha. Delhi 84/2 (10.2 overs)
# Khaleel Ahmed to bowl his second over!
# 13 runs off the ninth and tenth overs of the Delhi chase bowled by Rashid Khan and Basil Thampi. 7 runs off Khan's second over as he cuts the ball behind point followed by six runs off Thampi's second over. Delhi 83/1 (10 overs)
# 13 runs from the over, Delhi 70/1 (8 overs)
# Shreyas Iyer is the new man in!
# Wicket! Shikhar Dhawan dismissed for 17 runs off 16 deliveries as the opener is stumped off a wide delivery bowled down the leg-side. Delhi 66/1 (7.3 overs)
# Deepak Hooda into the attack!
# Delhi 57/0 (7 overs), with two runs off Basil Thampi's opening over!
# Delhi finish the powerplay on an aggressive note with 23 runs off the final two overs, as Shaw hits two boundaries and a six off Bhuvneshwar Kumar's second over, followed by a boundary to deep extra cover by Shaw off Rashid Khan who is brought into the attack. Delhi 55/0 (6 overs)
# Delhi score 20 runs off the third and fourth overs of the innings bowled by Khaleel Ahmed who is brought into the attack and Muhammad Nabi who bowls his second over. Shaw scores three boundaries off Ahmed making it 13 runs from the over, followed by 7 runs off Nabi's second over. Delhi 32/0 (4 overs)
# 12 runs off the opening two overs of the innings bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Prithvi Shaw. 10 runs off the opening over as Shikhar Dhawan scores two consecutive boundaries through the fine leg and wide of cover. 2 runs off Muhammad Nabi' maiden over as Delhi reach 12/0 (2 overs)
# Delhi openers Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw are set to kick off the chase!
# Delhi need 163 runs to win!
# Basil Thampi is the new man in!
# Wicket! Rashid Khan departs for a duck as he edges a slower delivery from Keemo Paul to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant. Hyderabad 161/8 (19.5 overs)
# Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the new man in!
# Wicket! Deepak Hooda dismissed for 4 runs off 4 deliveries as Hooda and Rashid Khan attempt to go for a run off a bye, resulting in a run-out. Hyderabad 161/7 (19.4 overs)
# Rashid Khan is the new man in!
# Wicket! Muhammad Nabi departs for 20 runs off 13 deliveries as he attempts to smash a slower delivery by the Windies cricketer, handing a catch to Axar Patel. Hyderabad 160/6 (19.4 overs)
# Keemo Paul to bowl the 20th over!
# 14 runs from the over, Hyderabad 151/5 (19 overs)
# Deepak Hooda is the new man in!
# Wicket! Vijay Shankar departs for 25 runs off 11 deliveries as he attempts to go for a third consecutive big hit following a boundary and a six off the first two deliveries, handing a catch to Axar Patel. Hyderabad 147/5 (18.3 overs)
# Trent Boult to bowl his third over!
# Hyderabad 137/4 (18 overs) with 22 runs off the 17th and 18th overs of the innings bowled by Axar Patel who bowls his final over and Keemo Paul who bowls his third over.
# Muhammad Nabi is the new man in!
# Wicket! Kane Williamson dismissed for 28 runs off 27 deliveries as the Hyderabad skipper fails to negotiate a slow yorker from Sharma, with the batting side losing their fourth wicket. Hyderabad 111/4 (15.5 overs)
# Ishant Sharma to bowl his final over!
# 11 runs from the over as Kane Williamson scores a boundary wide of cover, with Hyderabad 104/3 (15 overs)
# Sherfane Rutherford into the attack!
# 5 runs and a wicket from the over, Hyderabad 93/3 (14 overs)
# Vijay Shankar is the new man in!
# Wicket! Manish Pandey departs for 30 runs off 36 deliveries as Pandey attempts to go for a hit straight down the ground, as Sherfane Rutherford completes the catch. Hyderabad 90/3 (13.3 overs)
# Keemo Paul to bowl his second over!
# 6 runs off Amit Mishra's final over, as Hyderabad reach 88/2 (13 overs)
# 15 runs off the next three overs as Axar Patel bowls his second and third overs of the bowling spell alongside Amit Mishra who bowls his third over. Hyderabad 82/2 (12 overs)
# Nine off the seventh and eighth overs of the innings as Keemo Paul comes into the attack with Amit Mishra bowling his second over. Seven runs off Paul's maiden over followed by just two runs off Mishra's second over as Hyderabad reach 67/2 (9 overs)
# Four runs and a wicket from the over, Hyderabad 58/2 (7 overs)
# Kane Williamson is the new man in!
# Wicket! Martin Guptill dismissed for 36 runs off 19 deliveries as he attempts to go for a sweep hit off a turning delivery, resulting in a catch to Keemo Paul. Hyderabad 56/2 (6.3 overs)
# Amit Mishra into the attack!
# 17 runs from the final two overs of the powerplay as Axar Patel is brought into the attack and Ishant Sharma bowling his third over. Seven runs from Axar Patel's maiden over as Martin Guptill hits the ball over deep square leg. Manish Pandey smashes two boundaries off Ishant Sharma's third over, as Hyderabad reach 54/1 (6 overs)
# Six runs and a wicket from the over, Hyderabad 37/1 (4 overs)
# Manish Pandey is the new man in!
# Wicket! Wriddhiman Saha dismissed for 8 runs off 8 deliveries as he attempts to go for a big hit off a hard length delivery, resulting in a top edge with Shreyas Iyer completing the catch. Hyderabad 31/1 (3.1 overs)
# Ishant Sharma to bowl his second over!
# Hyderabad score 23 runs off the second and third overs of the innings bowled by Ishant Sharma who is brought into the attack and Trent Boult who bowls his second over. Guptill smashes three sixes off the two overs, as Hyderabad reach 31/0 (3 overs)
# 8 runs from the opening over of the innings as Wriddhiman Saha survives following an appeal overturned after a DRS review for a lbw call. Boundary off the final delivery by Saha through the off-side, Hyderabad 8/0 (1 over)
# Trent Boult to bowl the opening over!
# Hyderabad openers Wriddhiman Saha and Martin Guptill are set to kick start the innings!
# The umpires have walked down to the ground!
# Delhi (Playing XI): Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Colin Munro, Shreyas Iyer(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Sherfane Rutherford, Axar Patel, Keemo Paul, Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma, Trent Boult
# Hyderabad (Playing XI): Wriddhiman Saha(w), Martin Guptill, Manish Pandey, Kane Williamson(c), Vijay Shankar, Mohammad Nabi, Deepak Hooda, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, K Khaleel Ahmed, Basil Thampi
# Deepak Hooda replaces Yusuf Pathan for Hyderabad!
# Colin Munro replaces Colin Ingram for Delhi in the only change!
# Delhi skipper Shreyas Iyer has won the toss and opted to field!
# Both the captains are set for the toss!
# The toss is set to take place in a few minutes!
# Delhi are in the playoffs for the first time since 2012!
# Rashid Khan has picked 15 wickets at an economy rate of 6.6 this season for Hyderabad!
# Hyderabad have won only one away match this season against Delhi!
# Delhi have won five out of their seven away matches this season!
# Khaleel Ahmed has picked 17 wickets this season for Hyderabad!
# Manish Pandey has scored 260 runs in his last five matches for Hyderabad!
The road to the final has become difficult but Team Delhi have the means to drive their way through the obstacles, starting with the IPL eliminator against Hyderabad on Wednesday.
Re-branded before the start of the 12th season of the Indian Premier League, Delhi have been one of the top sides in this edition, playing cricket never seen before from them.
It is a bit harsh on the franchise that they are playing the do-or-die game despite securing 18 points after nine wins and five losses from 14 matches.
While the duo of Warner and Bairstow played a pivotal role in Hyderabad's performances and dominated the powerplay better than other teams, the likes of Manish Pandey stepped in after they left to be with their respective national teams.
In bowling, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneswar Kumar and Khaleel Ahmed have done just enough to help Team Hyderabad keep things.
In Kane Williamson, Hyderabad have a dependable captain and he will expect a little more from his New Zealand team-mate, Martin Guptill.
It will be another opportunity for Vijay Shankar to make a mark before flying to the United Kingdom for the World Cup.
Teams (likely XI):
Delhi: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer (capt), Rishabh Pant, Colin Ingram, Sherfane Rutherford, Keemo Paul, Axar Patel, Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma, Trent Boult
Hyderabad: Wriddhiman Saha, Martin Guptill, Manish Pandey, Kane Williamson (capt), Vijay Shankar, Yusuf Pathan, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, K Khaleel Ahmed.
(With PTI Inputs)
