Two out of three ain’t bad. We had two good IPL games to start the 2013 season but last night’s won’t live long in the memory.
Sunrisers Hyderabad batted poorly, only Thisara Perera looking remotely at home, and their score of 126 for six equalled their lowest (in their previous guise of the Deccan Chargers) at home, yet it proved to be enough.
While Amit Mishra and Dale Steyn bowled well to take three wickets, Pune batted brainlessly. On a pitch that was offering turn and bounce they played out the Power Play as if they were batting for lunch in a Test match.
Robin Uthappa showed what could be done when he lofted Ishant Sharma for a huge six but rather than that being a springboard for them to kick on and accelerate, it proved to be a flash in the pan and instead Sunrisers took control.
We should be wary of making sweeping statements after just one game but it is palpably clear that both teams need to improve significantly if they are to have any chance of making a serious impression on the tournament. I tipped both to surprise a few teams and indeed expected Pune to be in play-off contention so I would like to see them bounce back with better performances.
Sunrisers off the mark, Pune off to the drawing board.