Morris spell helps Delhi end Hyderabad's winning run

Chris Morris' stingy display with the ball, that yielded one for 19, helped Delhi beat an in form Hyderabad by seven wickets to register their sixth win in ten matches in the Indian Twenty20 competition in Hyderabad on Thursday.

Delhi's stand-in captain, JP Duminy, won the toss and opted to bowl first on a surface that assisted the bowlers. Hyderabad's top order, comprising of David Warner, Shikhar Dhawan and Kane Williamson got off to starts and refused to hand Delhi the early advantage.

The Warner-Dhawan opening combine added 67 runs in 8.5 overs before Jayant Yadav bowled Warner for a 30-ball 46. Williamson joined Dhawan and the duo added 31 for the second before Dhawan departed. His dismissal added pressure on Hyderabad's middle order who struggled to score freely.

Morris conceded just one boundary in his four overs and troubled the batsmen with a flurry of cutters, fast yorkers, slower yorkers, and bouncers. The South Africa fast bowler conceded just three runs in his first over, six in his second, eight in his third. He was rewarded for his impressive display and dismissed Williamson, as he tried to inject venom into the Hyderabad effort in the 19th over. Hyderabad managed just 146 in their innings.

Delhi required just 7.30 runs from the onset to end Hyderabad's four-match winning streak. Opener Quinton de Kock led Delhi's charge with a quick fire 31-ball 44. The visitors lost three wickets in the chase but Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant guided them home in the 19th over.

"Good day for us, eh? Guys tuned up ready to play a game of cricket. Ive got a job in the tea, to bowl fast and restrict the runs. Happy to contribute today. Bowlers doing well in this format is always pleasing," Morris said.

Duminy lauded his bowlers for their effort. "Back part of our bowling innings, we did exceptionally well. Always banking on them to strike for us, collective bowling performance. Guys have been responding well, understanding the XI. Youngsters have been performing, they have been responding well in pressure moments," Duminy said.