Delhi Capitals (DC) suffered a nine-run defeat at the hands of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Match 40 of IPL 2023 at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday (April 29).
Chasing 198 to win, the Capitals lost skipper David Warner for a second-ball duck but the duo of Philip Salt (59 off 35) and Marsh (63 off 39) added 112 for the second wicket to put the hosts on driver’s seat.
Mayank Markande broke the partnership by removing Salt in the 12th over and the dismissal triggered a collapse. DC lost the plot and slipped to 148/6 by the 17th over.
While Akshar Patel (29* off 14) tried his best to take the home team over the line, he didn’t get the desired support from the other end as Delhi’s innings was eventually restricted to 188/6.
After the game, Warner admitted that sending Akshar to bat as low as No. 7 was difficult but the Capitals were wary of challenges presented by SRH.
"He (Akshar) is in good touch and good form, but for us it's about we got off to a good start and him at the back end... we knew it would be vital with their spinners spinning into left-handers and we only had me and Akshar [as lefties]," Warner said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
"We had two guys going at that point and holding Akshar back at the back end, it can be difficult but there are challenges that present us when we're actually in the moment and maybe we can think about that, sending him earlier," he added.
Reflecting on the loss, Warner said DC need to "build momentum" in the middle order, asking one or two batters to get 80-plus scores and finish the game.
"We just have to build momentum through the middle with the bat. We need one or two players to get 80-plus scores and win games for us. We've been losing too many wickets throughout the middle and that's where we're suffering a little bit. Our senior players have to take responsibility. One of us has to get a big total and then it takes care of itself from there," the DC captain said.
It was Delhi Capitals’ sixth defeat in eight games. They are occupying the last spot in the 10-team points table.
DC will next face Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Tuesday (May 2).
