By Vadiraj Kanakagiri

Dubai: IPL didn't provide us with fast-paced, high scoring entertainment yesterday. Saying that the games weren't low scoring thrillers either. The pitches on which yesterday's games were substandard for a proper T20.

In the first game of the day, high flying Delhi Capitals took on Rajasthan Royals, who snatched victory from the throat, not even jaws of defeat in their previous outing against Punjab. Royals left out their Royal buy from the auction - Chris Morris, from this game. After being put in to bat Delhi lost their aggressive opening pair inside 4.1 overs. New death bowling sensation, Karthik Tyagi cleaned up Dhawan to open the royals' account. Coming in at 4, the new and old captains did some rebuilding. After trudging along for a run a ball 24, pant tried to whack the fizz away and was cleaned up in the process.

The star with the bat though was Shreyas Iyer. With almost all the batsmen struggling to get going, he looked fluent for his 43 before his innings came to an abrupt end, as he was stumped superbly by Samson. Hetmyer got a few away at the back end which propelled the score to 154.

Even though the score looked pretty chase-able, the pitch was speaking another language altogether. Apart from their captain Samson, all the batters from the Royals find it hard to even hit the ball off the square. With the score of 17 for 3 after 4.2, the Royals never really looked like they were in the chase. Even though Samson batted right through, they were always behind the eight balls. The bowling was exceptional from the Capitals as it has been for some time now, with none of the bowlers conceding more than 7 runs per over, except Avesh Khan who went at just 7.2. Anrich Nortje starred with the ball yet again as he priced another couple. From this win, Delhi continued on their merry way whereas it was another reality check for the Royals.

In the second game of the day, Punjab Kings took on the almost out of contention, Sunrisers Hyderabad. Punjab made as many as three changes with three Universe boss - Chris Gayle back in the playing XI. After choosing to bowl first, as ever, Hyderabad were phenomenal with the ball. Assisted by the conditions, they never let the star-studded Kings batting line-up get off the hook. Holder sent back both the openers in his very first over. Rahul looked good for his 21 whereas Mayank couldn't get going. Gayle took a few deliveries to get going as he always does, but was trapped in front by Rashid before he could unleash. Punjab were restricted for a modest 125 with Holder scalping 3 in the process. The top four batsmen from the Kings batted with a strike rate of 100 or below is a testament to the fact of how tight Sunrises were with their bowling.

Sunrises have an air of gloomy Outlook to their batting lineup this season. Even when chasing a low score, you couldn't sense a feeling of comfort in the dugout. And how could they, when Mohammed Shami broke the back of their batting unit by getting rid of the Trans-Tasman superstars with the score of 10. Ravi Bishnoi continued where Shami had left off and rattled the middle bats for the Sunrises. He ran through their lineup by picking up three wickets and almost sealed the game in the Kings favour. 

But Jason Holder wasn't giving up just yet. After starring with the ball, he came out all guns blazing with the bat, with an attitude of nothing to lose. Holder kept clearing the ropes on regular intervals, in a low scoring affair, that kept the chase alive. But it was too much for him in the end, with 17 runs required off the final over, he couldn't clear the ropes and Nathan Ellis held his nerve to get the Kings their first win in this leg.

So both the matches saw batsmen struggle hard for their runs and with the games being played on the same venues for the rest of the tournament, the template is likely to continue.