England great Kevin Pietersen was one of Harry Brook’s leading critics after the Sunrisers Hyderabad opener failed to fire in Monday evening’s Indian Premier League match against the Delhi Capitals.
Brook, who was picked up at the IPL Auction for AU$2.38 million, scored an unbeaten century for the Sunrisers in last week’s victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders, but has otherwise struggled throughout the T20 tournament
On Monday in Hyderabad, Brook scratched his way towards 7 (14) before attempting an audacious scoop shot and South African quick Anrich Nortje in the sixth over, with his middle stump shattered.
“I just don’t understand the shot actually,” Pietersen said in commentary.
“The fine leg is back. You’ve got a deep point, you’ve got a fine leg. He was giving himself a lot of room on the leg stump to hit through the off-side. I dunno, maybe I’m old fashioned – fine leg back, not a good shot.”
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Axar Patel starred with bat and bowl as the Capitals edged Hyderabad by seven runs in a low-scoring battle at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The left-hander lifted Delhi from a precarious 5-62 to 9-144 in a gritty partnership of 69 with Manish Pandey, before returning figures of 2-21 with his left-arm spin.
Fast bowler Mukesh Kumar, who came in under the new impact player rule, defended 12 off the final over to keep Hyderabad down to 6-137.
It was Delhi’s second successive victory after starting the season with five losses, but David Warner’s team remain bottom of the IPL ladder.
“I love it here. It’s an amazing crowd. I haven’t been here for a long time,” Warner, after playing at his former franchise that he led to victory in 2016, said.
“To win tonight, hopefully we can make it three in a row. We’ve got another against Sunrisers next.”
Hyderabad, led by South Africa’s Aiden Markram, are one place above Delhi on ninth with four points and five losses.
After Nortje dented the Hyderabad chase during the Powerplay, Axar joined in to cut short Mayank Agarwal’s knock on 49.
Pace spearhead Ishant Sharma and left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav picked up a wicket each to rattle the opposition middle-order before Heinrich Klaasen and Washington Sundar attempted to revive the chase.
Klaasen fell to Nortje after a 19-ball 31 and Sundar, a left-handed better, made an unbeaten 24, but Mukesh and Delhi had the last laugh.
Delhi elected to bat first but lost half their side, including Warner who hit 21, in eight overs before Axar and Pandey turned the innings around.
“I ordered for coffee and I left the glass like that, when three wickets fell in one over,” Player of the match Axar said with a smile.
“Pandey and I discussed we need to take it as deep as possible.”
Sundar returned figures of 3-28 with his mystery spin as he struck three times in one over including the wicket of Warner.
Seam bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar took two wickets and the innings witnessed three run outs.
– with AFP
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