Shikhar Dhawan is the Man of the Match for his unbeaten 92 off 50 balls.

Murali Karthik: How did you batting look so easy?
Shikhar Dhawan: It’s just my class!

“It was nice to execute our plans well tonight with the bat. We restricted them to a par total, but it’s always tough chasing. After the first half of the first innings, we thought it was a tough surface, it was keeping low but Pant played a special knock,” said Williamson. “Then the wicket maybe got a little better. There was a little bit of dew, not a huge amount. It was nice to be batting on this surface, good to get some momentum. I suppose we were just trying to bat with intent,” he added.

And to think that he was not the first-choice captain, but a replacement for their marquee player in David Warner.

Rishabh Pant’s splendid century (128 off 63) has sadly been in a losing cause and he certainly looks disheartened.

“Its very harsh on us because the wicket was better in the chase because of dew but it happens in cricket. I just try to see the ball and play according to it, today I took my time and played out well actually,” Pant said.

“I don’t know if it’s my best knock but till now it’s one of my best,” he added.

“The way we bowled, we didn’t deserve to win this match,” said Delhi captain Shreyas Iyer. 187 was a brilliant total on this wicket after losing two wickets in the Powerplay. The loss is disheartening but the way Pant batted was commendable. The wicket played really well later on and it played a big role,” he added.

Sunrisers Hyderabad chase down 188 to beat Delhi Daredevils by 9 wickets!

With this win, table-toppers SRH have confirmed their place in the IPL 2018 Playoffs and bottom-placed Delhi Daredevils have all but got the wooden spoon as they confirm an early exit in yet another season. But the focus tonight should be on that amazing chase, and how SRH have shown why they are the best units this season.

If anyone had any doubts why Sunrisers are on top of the table and already in the playoffs, no need to look further than this match. On a day their biggest weapon – the bowling unit – failed, two batsman stood out and stood tall. Dhawan (91) came back in to the form at the right moment as Captain Consistent Williamson (83) proved his worth once again.

After 18 overs, SRH 180/1, need 8 runs in 12 balls

Into his last over, Plunkett continues what has been an ordinary night, giving away 10 with a four off the last ball. No fight, no spark as DD look like they are just going through the motions here. Dhawan on 85, Williamson on 78, SRH on their way to playoffs.

After 17 overs, SRH 170/1, need 18 runs in 18 balls

Patel comes back and bowls a decent over, but at this stage, it is unlikely that anything or anyone can put pressure of the cool and composed Dhawan-Williamson. The 150-run stand between the two is also up, as they manage to get required 6 off the over.

After 16 overs, SRH 164/1, need 24 runs in 24 balls

The run rate has come down to 6 from over 10!
What an absolutely wonderful, pure cricketing chase from Sunrisers. Dhawan (76) and Williamson (71) have kept up the pressure without any theatrics or risks. Just doing the basics right, as SRK look set for their highest-ever chase.

If Pant’s innings was a slash of the sword, Williamson’s is the careful cut of the surgeon – he’s making the Delhi bowlers bleed sans violence.

12 runs off that Plunkett over, as Williamson also moves into the 70s with a splendid 6.

Fifty for Williamson!

Mr Consistent captain does it again, as he stands tall with 53 off 38 balls. Playing the perfect foil to Dhawan, the Kiwi keeps making the case for classical batsmen in the age of power-hitting. He has made 400 runs this season already, leading from the front.
And to think that they are missing their marquee player in David Warner!

150 comes up for SRH, need 36 runs in 30 balls. Should be easy.

After 14 overs, SRH 139/1, need 49 runs in 36 balls

Desperate for a breakthrough, Iyer brings Maxwell into the attack. The customary Dhawan boundary aside, it is not a bad over but the required 9 runs come off it so SRH need to take unnecessary risks yet.

What will DD do? Maybe they need another time out and a talk from Ponting to make sure they don’t end up losing the match.

After 13 overs, SRH 130/1, need 58 runs in 42 balls

Dhawan dances down the track and smacks the chinaman delivery from Nadeem for six. Intent, right? That also bring up the 100-run partnership between Dhawan and Williamson, 103 off just 63 balls. The 18-run over also brings the RRR under the current rate as SRH look in control. DD will have to break this partnership soon, or the Pant innings might just go in vain.

Fifty for Dhawan!
What a time to hit top form as the local lad is keeping his team in the hunt. It takes him 30 balls to reach the milestone, but you get the feeling that he is just getting started. He is one batsman who can top the Pant effort and and pull of this chase. What will be Iyer’s plan to get him? SRH 112/1 after 12, need 76 runs in 48 balls.

After 11 overs, SRH 105/1, need 83 runs in 54 balls

What a sight – Williamson has hit Mishra for a Six! The 100 also comes up for Sunrisers.
The Dhawan-Williamson partnership looks steady for SRH as they read the spin well and score 14 off the over of an otherwise economical bowler.

SRH 91/1 at the halfway mark

What exactly was the message given to Plunkett in the timeout?
He may not have got it clearly as her serves up Williamson two lollipops as a gift, duly taken with back-to-back boundaries. But he manages to pull back and bowl to the field after that with a dot and three singles. 11 runs off the over, SRH need 97 runs in 60 balls

After 9 overs, SRH 80/1

Good first five balls from Mishra but the last one is given the Dhawan treatment, going straight down the ground for four. 8 runs off the over as the match is poised interestingly.

After 8 overs, SRH 72/1

Vijay Shankar into the attack and Dhawan picks him as the bowler to attack. A ruthless four followed by an even more disdainful six, almost flicked flat over square leg. But Shanker manages to not let him run amok with boundaries after that. 14 runs off the over, with the 50-run partnership between Dhawan and Williamson coming up

Meanwhile, a Bishop gem from commentary...

Tweet does not exist

After 7 overs, SRH 58/1

Amit Mishra, the best bowler in the last match between the two, comes into the attack now. But for the one boundary from Williamson, bowls a tidy over otherwise, giving away only 7 to keep the RRR at 10.

After 6 overs, SRH 51/1

Last over of the Powerplay and Shikhar Dhawan gets into the act. Boult’s first ball is bludgeoned for four and the next is smacked for a typical Dhawan six. But Boult makes a strong comeback to give away only 3 runs after that. 13 runs off the over, and an inkling that Dhawan is looking to free his arms as the team 50 comes up.

After 5 overs, SRH 38/1

Plunkett into the attack and keeps things tight to start.. Till the last ball when Williams plays a smartly-placed shot to get boundary through third man. 9 runs of the over

After 4 overs, SRH 29/1

Patel continues from the other end and Dhawan finally gets a boundary to get going. Nine runs off the over with Williamson and Dhawan on crease.

After 3 overs, SRH 20/1

Shreyas Iyer brings in spin early with Shahbaz Nadeem coming in the third over and the ploy seems to work with only 4 off the over.

DD strike early!

What a comeback from Harshal Patel after being hit for back-to-back boundaries. He bowls a fuller ball that skids and hit the bad low, but plumb. The umpire has no doubt and Hales is out on 14 off 10, SRH 16/1 after 2

After 1 over, SRH 6/0

Boult opens the attack with a neat line to Hales with the one loose ball being swatted away for four.

Right then, time for the chase... Can SRH make 188? More importantly, can the DD bowlers defend it?

Stat Attack

Pant takes DD to 187/5!

W 4 4 6 6 6
The Maxwell wicket might just have been a good thing as it bring Pant on strike and he slams Bhuvi for 25 RUNS OFF THE NEXT 5 BALLS! The bowler who has trumped everyone this season is treated like cannon fodder by the new Mr 360, Rishabh Pant. No part is safe, no field adequate as he punches, slams, scoops and even hits a one-handed Six as he finishes on 128 off 63. What an innings, one that will go down in IPL history as among the finest.

Wicket!
Bhuvneshwar finally gets a wicket as Maxwell (9 off 8) doesn’t make it count, once again. But not like he got a chance with Pant-storm going on at the other end. He looks to go big but can only manage a top edge to long-off and Hales takes the catch.

Sensational century for Rishabh Pant!

A smashing boundary was the only way to get there as Pant pummels Kaul to being up his first IPL hundred. Coming off 56 balls, he scored the second 50 in only 20 balls as he bossed the best bowling attack this season. Applause all over and he is pumped and almost enraged as he celebrates the milestone, which has come at a very good time for DD, after a very bad patch. Maybe the run-out will all be forgotten now? He has taken DD to a very good position at 161/4 after 19

After 18 overs, DD 151/4

Rishabh Pant really likes to smash boundaries off the first balls, doesn’t he? Bhuvi is back in and is hit for a huge, powerful, ruthless six that reaches the changing rooms.
The pressure on, he bowls a wide next and is smacked for four after as Pant moves into the 90s. No nervousness for him though, as he scoops one back for another four. 18 runs off the over from the tournament’s best bowler. Pant moves to 97 off 54 and the partnership with Maxwell is worth 53 off 24, with Maxwell scoring only 4 off them.
Milestone incoming...

After 17 overs, DD 133/4

Rashid Khan vs Rishabh Pant this over:
A quick-thinking reverse sweep for four, a massive, double-dekcer Six, a single
Rashid Khan vs Glenn Maxwell this over:
Two runs without incident, a hesitant dot, and hit on the pad for no run

The difference form can make!

After 16 overs, DD 120/4

Successive first-ball sixes for Pant as Kaul bears the brunt this time. The pacer quickly adjusts to over the wicket and makes a good, mini-comeback with only 3 runs off the over after that. Pant is on 69 off 45, with Maxwell on 2 off 2 at the other end.

Fifty for Pant!
He gets there with a smashing Six off Shakib’s first ball, that should give him a grip after the last over. Another four in the over as they get 13 off the over. Well, he is making up for the poor running with even more brutal boundaries. he looks furious, and DD will hope that means big runs with only 5 overs to go. DD 111/4 after 15.

Pant involved in another run out!
DD’s farcical running between the wicket strikes yet again! The promising partnership is broken as Patel walks back on 24 off 17.
This wicket can’t be given to Sunerisers as it was all Pant. He ran the first and called for the second, but decided against it midway through and send his partner back. Patel has a lot of ground to cover and even a fumble and a dive can’t save him.
Pant is going to have a lot to answer to in the dressing room tonight. Time for Maxwell to make it count now.

After 13 overs, DD 94/3

That’s the 50-run partnership between Pant and Patel, off only 31 balls.
Harshal Patel doing the job he was sent up the order to, as a fine six off Sandeep Sharma sets up another big over for DD. Pant, meanwhile, is in the zone with another boundary as they score 13 runs off the over. DD are spoiling SRH bowlers’ normally good economy rate in the last few overs.

After 12 overs, DD 81/3

Rashid Khan going for runs now. Pant may not be the best runner today, but he is picking up boundaries at a good clip with three fours in the over. He moves to 43 off 30 as the 15-run over gives the DD camp some cheer.

Pant also becomes the youngest player to score 1000 IPL runs.

After 11 overs, DD 66/3

Kaul is back in the attack and is cannon fodder once again after his first 15-run over. Harshal Patel slams the second bowl for a flat six and then Pant then gets into the act with a four a ball later. 14 runs off the over, with another run-out scare for Pant to end.

After 10 overs, DD 52/3

Here comes Rashid Khan and maintains the pressure with a 4-run over. DD are 52/3 at the halfway mark, and will need a explosive innings to get a score they can hope to defend. Right now, the projected score is only above 100 and that is not going to be good enough.

After 9 overs, DD 48/3

Pant has a lot to make up for now and will have to stay till the end for Delhi to set a decent target. Harshal Patel is sent up the order, instead of Glenn Maxwell who has been woefully out of form. Meanwhile, Shakib bowls another tidy over with only 4 off it

Should DD have sent Maxwell ahead of Patel?

What a mess from DD!
Once again, a run-out ends the partnership between Iyer and Pant. The captain was halfway down the pitch before he is sent back and has to walk back on 3 off 8. Pant prods the ball close and takes off before turning back, but keeper Goswami is alert enough to not just collect it quick, but throw it to the bowler Sandeep who has all the time in the world to whip the bails.
A great over for SRH, with only 1 run and a wicket off it, DD 44/3 after 6.

After 7 overs, DD 43/2

On a hat-trick, Shakib is back in the attack from the other end but Pant plays out the hat-trick ball with ease. But bringing in the spinner again has done the trick, with just 5 runs off the over after the expensive last one.

After 6 overs, DD 38/2

Williamson brings in Siddarth Kaul for the last over of the Powerplay and Rishabh Pant responds by flexing his muscles for back-to-back boundaries off the first three balls. That will relieve some pressure of DD. 15 runs off that over, but DD won’t be too happy with the runs in the Powerplay after opting to bat against the best bowling attack this season.

After 5 overs, DD 23/2
Sandeep Sharma is back in the attack after the destructive double-wicket over for Hyderabad and builds on the momentum. Both Shreryas Iyer and Rishabh Pant play safe with only 2 runs off the over.

DOUBLE STRIKE! Kane Williamson brings on Shakib Al Hasan and he’s immediately produced two wickets. He gets both the openers back-to-back. First to go was Prithvi Shaw, who miscued a pull to Dhawan at covers. Next, he bowled a brilliant away-spinning ball that took Roy’s edge before going to Goswami behind the wickets. Wow, superb start by the Sunrisers this. DD 21/2 after 4

After 3 overs, DD 16/0 (Roy 10, Shaw 5): Top-class over by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Didn’t give the batsmen any freebies. But Roy earned a boundary by lofting a good length ball over Bhuvi’s head. Apart from that four and a leg-bye, no runs from that over.

After 2 overs, DD 11/0 (Roy 6, Shaw 5): A quiet start by Shaw and Roy. They’d want to know well how this pitch behaves before going for the shots. Roy-Shaw is the seventh opening combination Delhi have tried this season.

Alright, we are all set for match no. 42 of the Indian Premier League. Jason Roy and star-in-the-making Prithvi Shaw in the middle. B Kumar with the new ball...

Did you know: The last time Sreevats Goswami played in the IPL was in 2012. He was Rajasthan Royals’ wicket-keeper in a match against Deccan Chargers. Chargers won that match by five wickets. Here he is, six years later, keeping for Sunrisers.

Playing XI

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Shikhar Dhawan, Alex Hales, Kane Williamson (C), Shakib Al Hasan, Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan, Rashid Khan, Srivats Goswami (W), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma.

Delhi Daredevils: Prithvi Shaw, Jason Roy, Shreyas Iyer (C), Rishabh Pant (W), Glenn Maxwell, Vijay Shankar, Liam Plunkett, Harshal Patel, Shahbaz Nadeem, Amit Mishra, Trent Boult

07:33 pm Toss: Shreyas Iyer has won the toss, he’s chosen to bat first against the Masters of Defence. Kane Williamson reckons the pitch is unpredictable.

07:33 pm Pitch: Looks very brown. Plenty of cracks throughout. Rashid Khan, Amit Mishra and the other spinners from both sides will be raring to go.

07:21 pm Key questions:-

Will Maxwell be picked tonight? Last match he opened, got out because of a freak run out, dropped a catch.

Who will win the contest between young Prithvi Shaw (who scored a brilliant 36-ball 65) and Rashid Khan?

Rishabh Pant needs 43 runs to get to 1000 IPL runs. Will he become the become the youngest to reach the landmark tonight?

07:15 pm Wait, what?!

07:00 pm: Good evening folks and welcome to the live blog of the match between Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Feroz Shah Kotla. The Shreyas Iyer-led team need a win to keep their chances of reaching the playoffs alive but that will are faced with a mountain of a task to do it against Kane Williamson and Co, who have lost only 2 out of 10 matches this season.