Sudhindra guides Giants to victory

Gurgaon: Owing to an exceptional bowling by Taduri Sudhindra, Delhi Giants managed to get the better of Hyderabad Heroes by seven runs in the Twenty20 match of the ICL championship at the Tau Devi Lal stadium here on Monday.

Although, Giants faltered after opting to bat first, as a four-wicket haul by Abdul Razzaq (4-23) restricted them to a modest 137 for 8 in their alloted 20 overs, but, in the battle of brilliant bowling from both the teams, Giants had the last laugh.

Defending a small target of 138 runs, Sudhindra (3-25) took three quick wickets as he ran through the Heroes' top-order, alongwith Ali Murtaza, who also claimed one victim to reduce the Heroes to 4-17 in the 5th over.

Heroes' lost opener Sahshank Nag (3) in the second over itself as he gave a simple catch to Bali off the bowling of Sudhindra.

The pacer struck yet again in his very next over to remove Anirudh Singh (3). He picked up his third wicket in the form of Ambati Rayudu (3).

Murtaza then saw off Nicky Boje (2) in the next over to give Giants a real chance of victory in this match.

But Justin Kemp and Stuart Binny led the Heroes' fight back. And all of a sudden, the duo changed the course of the match completely by getting into their groove quickly as they started smashing the bowlers all around the park.

Kemp was more dominant of the two as he opened his arms from the word go, playing his strokes well. And soon after, even Binny started to match his partner's stroke-making abilities.

And just when the two of them were threatening to run away with the match, New Zealand's Shane Bond gave the Giants the much-needed breakthrough by returning the Kemp back to the pavilion for a well-made 33 off 31 balls, studded with 2 boundaries and a six.