IPL: Kane Williamson leads Sunrisers to victory

IPL scores (Hyderabad)

Sunrisers Hyderabad (20/20) 191-4 (Williamson 89, Dhawan 70; Morris 4-26)

Delhi Daredevils (20/20) 176-5 (Iyer 50*, Samson 42, Nair 33;  Siraj 2-39)

Sunrisers won 15 runs

Match report

Kane Williamson led Sunrisers Hyderabad to a 15-run victory over Delhi Daredevils with a man of the match performance in the IPL on Wednesday.

His knock of 89 came off 51 balls and included six fours and five sixes proving that the New Zealander is capable of destructive hitting.

Before this innings he had hit just one six in eight IPL innings.

Williamson, the New Zealand captain, was delighted to get a start after sitting out the first five fixtures and to make the most of it.

"Nice to get a game. The guys have been doing a fantastic job, so fortunate to get a game", Williamson said.

"It was a very good surface, it was important to get a good score batting first. Once again, just those partnerships throughout were important and I think the icing on the cake were the couple of boundaries that took us past 180.

"Once the platform was set, it was about getting the run rate up and fortunately we were able to do it. Our fielding has improved, which is something we have focused on."

It is widely accepted that Williamson's ability to change the tempo of a team's innings with quiet efficiency is his trademark.

However, he brought some brutality to the crease in this innings with his boundary haul that included back-to-back sixes off Angelo Mathews.

Williamson put on 136 for the second wicket with Shikhar Dhawan as the Sunrisers amassed 191-4 off their 20 overs before restricting the Daredevils to 176-5.

Williamson was absent in the field at times after picking up an injury that he later played down. 

"I just got a little niggle, probably was not going to do the team too much of a service being out with the niggle."

Sunrisers captain and Australian opener David Warner was full of praise for Williamson."It was an outstanding performance from the guys", said the Australian."Kane, first game for him this year, the way he and Shikhar played laid an outstanding platform for the guys.

"We galvanise well together, we know what to expect. Fantastic performance from the guys with the bat and then following it up with the ball as well."

It was the champion's fourth win in as many matches at home and leaves them second on the points table after six matches.