IPL 2020 Qualifier 2: DC vs SRH Review – All-round Stoinis powers Delhi to maiden final

Delhi Capitals have qualified for their first-ever IPL final defeating the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 17 runs in the 2nd qualifier of IPL 2020 on Sunday. After opting to bat first, Delhi got off to a great start with a surprise opener in Marcus Stoinis making the most of the early reprieve. He and Shikhar Dhawan took the attack to the Hyderabad bowlers, adding 86 runs in 8.2 overs before Rashid Khan got the better of Stoinis.

Shreyas Iyer’s struggle in the middle continued. However, Shimron Hetmyer supported Dhawan well to keep the run-rate above 9 all the time. Dhawan scored a sublime 78 off just 50 balls while Hetmyer, making a comeback, remained unbeaten on 42 off just 22 balls. Despite the fact that SRH bowled the last two overs really well conceding only 13 runs, DC posted a mammoth total of 189/3 in their 20 overs.

The collapse

The chase didn’t start on a good note for SRH with their skipper David Warner getting out to Rabada in the second over. Manish Pandey and the other opener Priyam Garg also got out in the powerplay itself to leave the team reeling at 44/3. This is when Kane Williamson walked in and kept the team in the hunt. He stitched crucial partnerships first with Jason Holder and then with Abdul Samad to bring SRH to 147 only to get out at the wrong time. Samad scored 33 off just 16 balls and tried his best but Rabada’s 19th over where three wickets fell proved to be the final nail in the coffin as DC sealed their place in the final.

Turning Point

Williamson’s wicket – As he did against RCB, the calm and collected Williamson was once again trying to get the job done, this time chasing 190. At one stage, the way he was batting, it seemed as if he would repeat his heroics from the previous match. But a certain Marcus Stoinis was turning everything into gold he touched on the day. With 51 to defend in the last four overs, Iyer handed the ball to him and he delivered, nipping out the big fish Williamson.

Top performers

Records/Personal Milestones

• Shikhar Dhawan crossed the 600-run mark in a single IPL season for the first time
• Kagiso Rabada has now picked 29 wickets this season. These are the most by any Delhi franchise player ever in the IPL.

Way Ahead

Delhi Capitals will lock horns against defending champions Mumbai Indians in the final of the tournament on November 10.