Once again, toss played a crucial part, with David Wanrer opting to chase in Rajkot. The skipper marshaled his resources in the first part of the match to restrict a formidable looking batting line-up to 135/8.
The Aussie, then, returned with his out-of-form opening partner Shikhar Dhawan to chase down the target with 31 balls remaining. In the process, he also became the highest scorer of the season.
SUNRISERS HYDERABAD INNINGS
Over 14.5 || Score 137/0 (Warner 74; Dhawan 53); Target 136
That's just about perfect from the Sunrisers Hyderabad openers. They took the required 11 runs from the next five balls to register back-to-back wins.
Ravindra Jadeja started with a single to David Warner, then Shikhar Dhawan took two two's then a three, before Warner hit the winning runs. A four behind the wicket.
A 10-wicket win.
Over 14 || Score 125/0 (Warner 69; Dhawan 46); Target 136
Finally, Dhawal Kulkarni on. Suresh Raina could have brought him earlier. Nine runs from the over, nonetheless.
A single to David Warner to start the over. A dot ball, the Shikhar Dhawan took a double. It was followed by a well placed four. No chance of third man.
Two singles and Sunrisers Hyderabad need another 11 runs from 36 balls.
Over 13 || Score 116/0 (Warner 67; Dhawan 39); Target 136
Ravindra Jadeja on for his second over, and four runs from it. A tidy spell, but will need much more than containing the scoring rate.
Two dot balls, then Shikhar Dhawan took a double - running down short fine leg. A dot ball, the two singles followed.
Over 12 || Score 112/0 (Warner 66; Dhawan 36); Target 136
Dwayne Bravo continued for his third over. 12 runs from the over, as Shikhar Dhawan increased the tempo.
Three singles, then Dhawan played a delicate glance for the first four of the over. It was followed by another four, this time to mid-wicket boundary.
A single to end the over, and Sunrisers Hyderabad need another 24 runs from 48 balls.
Over 11 || Score 100/0 (Warner 64; Dhawan 26); Target 136
Ravindra Jadeja got his first over, post marriage, and great start. Four singles.
In between, Sunrisers Hyderabad have reached hundred with a single off the last ball of the over. And it's the fourth time David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan have posted century opening stand in IPL.
Over 10 || Score 96/0 (Warner 62; Dhawan 24); Target 136
Another productive over for Sunrisers Hyderabad. 10 runs from Pravin Tambe's second over.
A dot to Shikhar Dhawan to start the over. A wide followed, before two singles and a double. A single to Dhawan, then David Warner hit the last ball of the over for a four to wide long-on.
Over 9 || Score 86/0 (Warner 57; Dhawan 20); Target 136
Dwayne Bravo returned for his second over. A single to David Warner to start the over, which was followed by a four with Shikhar Dhawan punishing the loose delivery. The delivery on the leg was glanced with elan.
Two singles and a leg-bye, then a double. Ten runs from the over.
Over 8 || Score 76/0 (Warner 53; Dhawan 15); Target 136
Finally a quiet over. Six runs from the over, which also included a wide. Good job from Suresh Raina.
Sunrisers Hyderabad need another 60 runs from 12 overs.
Over 7 || Score 70/0 (Warner 50; Dhawan 13); Target 136
Pravin Tambe on, and scoring-rate somehow seemed to have stalled. But still seven runs coming from the over.
The over started with a double to David Warner, then five singles followed.
Warner, in between, reached his fifty off 29 balls, with a single.
BREAK!
Over 6 || Score 63/0 (Warner 45; Dhawan 11); Target 136
Suresh Raina brought himself. Good start, two dot balls to Shikhar Dhawan. Then, a single off the third ball.
But the good part ended there, with David warner hit two back-to-back fours. And a single to end the over.
10 runs from the over, and Sunrisers Hyderabad need another 73 runs from 14 overs.
Over 5 || Score 53/0 (Warner 36; Dhawan 10); Target 136
Little early for Suresh Raina to introduce Dwayne Bravo considering the West Indies' storied abilities with the softer, older deliveries. Desperate times, desperate measures.
And five runs from the over, which also included a four, to Shikhar Dhawan, off the second ball.
Bravo did well to concede one more run from the remaining balls. That was Dhawan's first boundary. He certainly needs time.
Over 4 || Score 48/0 (Warner 36; Dhawan 5); Target 136
Two classic on drives from David Warner. First one a cracking cover drive. Fielders remained mute spectators. It was followed by an even more exquisite shot, this time, more square. Again, no chance to fielders.
Two doubles followed. Then, the Aussie opener disdainfully lofted straight for the third four.
A double to end the over. Thus experienced Praveen Kumar conceded 18 runs, 31 from his two overs.
Sunrisers Hyderabad need another 88 runs from 16 overs.
Over 3 || Score 30/0 (Warner 18; Dhawan 5); Target 136
Lots of action in the middle, and runs continue to flow in Rajkot.
Dale Steyn returned for his second over. It started with a single to Shikhar Dhawan, followed by a double. Another double as David Warner tried heaving a good length delivery, which missed two onrushing fielders from mid-on and mid-off.
A single, then the first dot ball of the over. It was followed by a wide, on the leg. A dot to end the 7-run over.
Over 2 || Score 23/0 (Warner 13; Dhawan 4); Target 136
Another big over for the batting team as Praveen Kumar leaked 13 runs from his first over, which also included five wides.
Majority of the runs came from David Warner, while his opening partner Shikhar Dhawan has so far faced only two balls.
Sunrisers Hyderabad need another 113 runs from 18 overs.
Over 1 || Score 10/0 (Warner 10; Dhawan 0); Target 136
Dale Steyn started the defence with a 10-run over thanks to David Warner's explosive start.
Two fours and a double.
Brilliant start to the chase for Hyderabad.
GUJARAT LIONS INNINGS
Over 20 || Score 135/8 (P Kumar 1)
A brilliant final over from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, just like the first over. Three wickets, and six runs.
The over started with a four to Suresh Raina, then the skipper tried a pull shot. But he ended up top-edging. Moises Henriques took the catch at long-on.
WICKET: Suresh Raina c Moises Henriques b Bhuvneshwar Kumar 75 (51b)
It was followed by the wickets of Akshdeep Nath and Dale Steyn off the third and sixth balls of the over.
WICKET: Akshdeep Nath c Bipul Sharma b Bhuvneshwar Kumar 5(10b)
Bhuvi could have completed a hat-trick but Dale Steyn's aerial shot landed short of Eoin Morgan at long-on.
But the South African got himself out off the last ball, caught at the same area by Morgan.
WICKET: Dale Steyn c Eoin Morgan b Bhuvneshwar Kumar 1 (2b)
Bhuvi's figures: 4-0-29-4, and he is the owner of purple cap.
Over 19 || Score 129/5 (Raina 71; Nath 5)
Mustafizur Rahman on for his last over. And a superb penultimate over from the 20-year-old pro.
A dot ball, then Akshdeep Nath took a double, which was followed by two more dot balls. The fourth delivery, a outside off yorker almost knock-off Nath as he tried to avoid the delivery.
A single off the fifth ball, and another single to Suresh Raina for a four-run over.
Rahman's figures: 4-0-19-1.
Over 18 || Score 125/5 (Raina 70; Nath 2)
Barinder Sran on for his final over of the day. A single to Suresh Raina, then a dot ball to new man Akshdeep Nath.
A single, which was followed by a four from Raina. The skipper slogged over mid-wicket fielder. Two singles more and eight runs from the over.
Sran's figures: 4-0-36-1.
Over 17 || Score 117/5 (Raina 64; Nath 0)
Mustafizur Rahman returned for his third over. Good start. Three singles off the first three balls. A dot ball, then the left-arm seamer castled Ravindra Jadeja's wickets. Slower offcutter, hitting the top of the off-stump.
WICKET: Ravindra Jadeja b Mustafizur Rahman 14 (14b)
Akshdeep Nath is the new man. Four runs and a wicket from the over.
Over 16 || Score 113/4 (Raina 62; Jadeja 12)
A delicate late cut to start the over. Ravindra Jadeja got a single for the effort. Suresh Raina, from the back foot, played a cut shot, which found the gap between square leg and mid-wicket, for another single.
It was followed by a well directed slower delivery. Yorker. A dot. Then a wide ball, for height.
Jadeja then reached out to a widish delivery with ball looping over the square leg fielder. Misfield and two runs. Another double, then another wide.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar ended his third over with a single. Nine runs from it.
Over 15 || Score 104/4 (Raina 61; Jadeja 6)
As expected,the ever impressive Mustafizur Rahman returned for his second lot. A double to Ravindra Jadeja to start the over, who played with soft hands towards square leg.
A single to followed, then, Suresh Raina played an effective lofted straight drive for a four. Sunrisers Hyderabad arrived, sliding, but the ball bounced to hit the ropes after his valliant attempt.
A single more, then a dot ball, before Jadeja took a single. Nine runs from Rahman.
Over 14 || Score 95/4 (Raina 56; Jadeja 2)
Barinder Sran got first wicket of the tournament, that too a big one. Dwayne Bravo launched, only to find Bhuvneshwar Kumar waiting at deep square leg.
WICKET: Dwayne Bravo c Bhuvneshwar Kumar b Barinder Sran 8 (12b)
That happened off the first ball of the 14th over. Ravindra Jadeja joined his skipper.
Four singles and a wicket.
In the last five overs, Lions have scored only 28 losing two wickets.
In the 13th over, Moises Henriques leaked eight runs. His figures so far: 3-0-17-0. Impressive.
Over 12 || Score 83/3 (Raina 50; Bravo 5)
Two good overs for Hyderabad as Bipul Sharma and Deepak Hooda operating in tandem.
Sharma conceded three runs in the 11th over, which was followed by a 6-run over from Hooda.
In between, Suresh Raina reached his fifty with a single off the last ball of 12th over. He has taken 34 balls, hitting six fours, to reach the mark.
Over 10 || Score 74/3 (Raina 46; Bravo 0)
Deepak Hooda continued for his second over. A single to Suresh Raina after a dot ball. A short delivery followed, which was cut ferociously by Dinesh Karthik but for a single only.
A single, then Karthik found his first four. A bad delivery, which was swept with purpose.
Then the wicket. Karthik picked out Bhuvneshwar Kumar at deep square leg. The fielder completed the catch after some jugglery.
WICKET: Dinesh Karthik c Bhuvneshwar Kumar b Deepak Hooda 8 (9b)
That happened off the last ball of the over. Dwayne Bravo is the new man.
Over 9 || Score 67/2 (Raina 44; Karthik 3)
A tidy over from Moises Henriques followed. Five runs from the over, which included a wide too.
Strategic Time-Out.
In between, Suresh Raina has quickly reached 44 off 27 balls, and he has hit six fours. Good work from the skipper.
Over 8 || Score 62/2 (Raina 42; Karthik 1)
David Warner brought in another spinner in Bipul Sharma. The slow-left arm spinner started his spell with a single to Suresh Raina, then the big wicket of Brendon McCullum. The former Kiwi skipper didn't timed and picked up Deepa Hooda at deep midwicket. Thus ended a 56-run stand.
WICKET: Brendon McCullum c Deepak Hooda b Bipul Sharma 18 (17b)
Dinesh Karthik arrived in the centre to give company to his skipper.
Two singles in the next three balls, then Raina hit a good looking shot, four to long-on boundary.
Seven runs and a wicket.
Over 7 || Score 55/1 (McCullum 18; Raina 36)
Double bowling change for Hyderabad as David Warner introduced Moises Henriques into the attack. The Aussie all-rounder conceded five runs -- all singles -- for a tidy first over.
Over 6 || Score 50/1 (McCullum 16; Raina 33)
A brief stoppage as on-field umpires engaged in a very animated talk with Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper David Warner, and other team members. It happened just when Deepak Hooda was about to start his spell.
Then, Suresh Raina welcomed the spinner with a lofted cover drive for a four. A single followed, then Brendon McCullum responded with his single.
Raina then played a pull shot, which was fielded by Shikar Dhawan at deep cover after a fumble. Two runs. A single and a a dot to end the over.
Over 5 || Score 41/1 (McCullum 15; Raina 25)
Barinder Sran continued for his second over. A double to Suresh Raina, who played a lofted shot over the mid-on fielder. A single to give the strike back to Brendon McCullum.
The Kiwi smoked the next ball. A huge swing and the ball sailed over the deep square leg boundary. Another dot ball, then McCullum found gap in the same area, for a four.
Two runs off the last ball, and 15 from the over.
Over 4 || Score 26/1 (McCullum 3; Raina 22)
Mustafizur Rahman on for Hyderabad Sunrisers. Two dot balls to Brendon McCullum, before a single to cover, where Shikhar Dhawn misfield.
A single followed, then a gem of a delivery from the Bangladesh seamer to beat McCullum. The 20-year-old just impressed upon the Kiwi legend. The ball, after pitching on the middle took off and McCullum just managed to let it go. Another dot ball to end the over. Two runs from it.
Over 3 || Score 24/1 (McCullum 2; Raina 21)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar on for his second over, and this time, the right-arm pacer has been taken for runs with Suresh Raina in a murderous mood.
The over started with a four. Raina picked the full length delivery and driven straight. No chance for the bowler to react. A dot ball, then the left-handed batsman played square, and another boundary.
A leg-bye, then a dot ball to Brendon McCullum, before the Kiwi legend took a single. 10 runs from the over.
Over 2 || Score 14/1 (McCullum 1; Raina 13)
Barinder Sran shared the new ball with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and left-arm pacer started with a loose delivery on leg stump. Suresh Raina flicked the ball, and it crashed into fine leg boundary.
A double, then a single followed.
Brendon McCullum opened his account with a single, then a dot ball. A single to end the over. Nine runs from the over.
Over 1 || Score 5/1 (McCullum 0; Raina 5)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar started the proceedings with a swinging delivery, coming back to Aaron Finch. Shout for LBW, but missing the line.
The Aussie batsman played the next ball from the front foot even as the Bhuvi continued to move the ball in the air. Another similar delivery. Three dot balls, then...
... the big wicket of Finch. Cleaned up. The opener tried to drive, but it proved expensive against the moving ball.
WICKET: Aaron Finch b Bhuvneshwar Kumar 0 (4b)
Skipper Suresh Raina arrived, and played an exquisite shot. A gentle push through cover, and four. It was followed by a single. Five runs and a wicket from the over.
Big news is the return just married Ravindra Jadeja and Dale Steyn replacing James Faulkner for the Lions. For Sunrisers, Aditya Tare comes in for Ashish Reddy. And here are the playing XIs:
Gujarat Lions: Aaron Finch, Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina (capt.), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Akshdeep Nath, Dhawal Kulkarni, Praveen Kumar, Dale Steyn, Pravin Tambe
Sunrisers Hyderabad: David Warner (capt.), Shikhar Dhawan, Moises Henriques, EOin Morgan, Deepak Hooda, Aditya Tare, Naman Ojha (wk), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mustafizur Rahman, Bipul Sharma, Barinder Sran
TOSS: David Warner wins toss, and Sunrisers Hyderabad will bowl first against Gujarat Lions in Rajkot.
Match officials:
Umpires: Krishnamachari Bharatan and Kumar Dharmasena
Third Umpire: Anil Dandekar
Match Referee: Sunil Chaturvedi
Reserve Umpire: Abhijit Deshmukh
TEAMS
Sunrisers Hyderabad: David Warner (capt.), Shikhar Dhawan, Moises Henriques, Deepak Hooda, Siddharth Kaul, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhimanyu Mithun, Eoin Morgan, Mustafizur Rahman, Ashish Reddy, Ricky Bhui, Bipul Sharma, Trent Bolt, Ben Cutting, Ashish Nehra, Naman Ojha, Vijay Shankar, Karn Sharma, Barinder Sran, T Suman, Aditya Tare, Kane Williamson and Yuvraj Singh.
Gujarat Lions: Suresh Raina (capt.), Dwayne Bravo, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Ravindra Jadeja, Sarabjit Ladda, Akshadeep Nath, Amit Mishra, Dinesh Karthik, Shivil Kaushik, Dhawal Kulkarni, Praveen Kumar, Brendon McCullum, Paras Dogra, Eklavya Dwivedi, Ishan Kishan, Shadab Jakati, Pradeep Sangwan, Jaydev Shah, Umang Sharma, Dwayne Smith, Dale Styne, Pravin Tambe and Andrew Tye.
PREVIEW
Gujarat Lions are in red-hot form. After winning all three matches they have played so far, the Suresh Raina-led outfit should steamroll Sunrisers Hyderabad today.
The Hyderabad-based franchise managed to beat defending champions Mumbai Indians at home in their last game, and it should augur well for the team. But the win came thanks to a one-man show, and that's where the real story starts.
The visiting Lions have a very, very strong team, and on paper they are indeed the lions of the tournament. There are other outfits claiming to the same title, but team-balance and stats stood out for this new team. Rightly, they have started the season on a rollicking style. And yet, they are still away from picking as a team.
Aaron Finch is going strong, Brendon McCullum will soon hit form, Suresh Raina is yet to capitalise on starts, Dwayne Bravo is just about perfect, Pravin Tambe is more fitter and hungrier, James Faulkner is well oiled, Ravindra Jadeja is rejuvenated and others doing their jobs. That's a dangerous unit.
In contrast, the David Warner-led side has found the IPL calling too hot to handle. had it not been for the skipper from Australia, they would have tasted third defeat and three outings. Here, the imperative question is -- how long will he bail out the team.
The disappointment that Shikhar Dhawan is too prominent to ignore, yet the India opener continues to occupy a prime spot in the team, and the franchise think tank thinks that he will find form. Sooner the better.
The absence of Ashish Nehra, Yuvraj Singh and Kane Williamson further compounded the team's woes. They are known match-winners. And with a fragile batting line-up, they start as the underdogs.
Besides the skipper, only other player capable winning the match is Bangladesh sensation Mustafizur Rahman. If he gets good enough support, from say a sure starter like Moises Henriques then they can win close matches, and it should start today.
New Delhi: Welcome to our live coverage of the Match 15 of 2016 Indian Premier League between Gujarat Lions vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, being played at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot.
