Aiden Markram gave the Sunrisers Hyderabad’s run chase some much-needed impetus but couldn’t prevent a 21-run defeat by the Delhi Capitals on Thursday.
The Proteas batsman scored 42 off 25 balls, including four fours and three sixes, before being dismissed in the 13th over.
West Indian Nicholas Pooran went on to make 62 off 34, but Delhi were able to defend their total of 207-3.
Earlier, David Warner returned to blistering form for the Capitals with an unbeaten 92 and a 122-run stand with Rovman Powell.
The Australia opener hit 12 fours and three sixes in his 58-ball innings with West Indian Powell also unbeaten on 67 off 35 balls with three fours and six massive sixes.
India seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled a wicket-maiden and dismissed Warner’s opening partner Mandeep Singh to give a perfect start for the Sunrisers.
All-rounder Mitchell Marsh fell on 10 to fellow Australian Sean Abbott before Delhi’s middle order took control.
Captain Rishabh Pant hit three sixes and a four in one Shreyas Gopal over before falling to the spinner in a brief but promising 16-ball 26.
Delhi didn’t lose any more wickets as Warner and Powell destroyed Hyderabad’s pace battery.
Indian rookie pacers – Umran Malik and Kartik Tyagi – gave away 89 runs in their eight wicketless overs and Abbott finished with 1-47 in his four overs.
Hyderabad lost both openers early in the chase. Captain Kane Williamson fell after a scratchy 11-ball four to South Africa’s Anrich Nortje and Abhishek Sharma (seven) fell to left-arm pace of Khaleel Ahmed.
The Hyderabad middle order failed to keep up with the high run rate for the chase.
Rahul Tripathi fell on 22 to Marsh and Markram was dismissed by Ahmed.
Ahmed also took Abbott’s scalp and finished his four overs with 3-30.
Pooran kept Hyderabad’s slim hopes alive before losing his wicket to Shardul Thakur.
“For us, it’s just going back to the drawing board and keeping things really simple,” Williamson said after his team’s third successive defeat.
“An outstanding knock from David Warner and Powell at the end, two great contributions that went a long way toward them winning the game.”
© Agence France-Presse
