New Delhi: David Warner played a captain's knock – 81 off 52 balls – as Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Kings XI Punjab by 5 runs in the 48th match of the Indian Premier League at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad.
Sunrisers Hyderabad innings: 185/5 (Rahul 17; Sharma 11)
Kings XI Punjab innings: 180/7 (Miller 89; Hendricks 0)
Over 20 | Score 180/7 (Miller 89; Hendricks 0)
28 needed from 6, Hendricks is the new man in, Miller is on strike. He started with a length ball and Miller smashed it over wide of long-on for a Six! Ishant offered room off the second ball and Miller spanked it over covers for another Six! Terrific hitting under pressure. 16 needed from 4 now. Miller hit the third ball straight to the fielder at long-off and refused to take the single. Ishant bowled another full-toss, Miller got an edge which rushed past third man for a boundary. 12 needed from 2 now! Miller hit the fifth ball towards deep midwicket, and once again refused to run. Ishant ended the over with a full-toss and Miller tonked it over long-on for a Six! KXIP lose the match by 5 runs. David Miller – take a bow, incredible hitting from the South African!
Over 19 | Score 158/7 (Miller 67)
Bhuvi to bowl his final over. Miller took a single off the first ball. Axar followed it with another single. Miller made room off the third ball and hit it over long-off for a Six! Miller smashed the fourth ball towards deep midwicket for a couple of runs. Miller once again hit the fifth ball towards midwicket but rightly refused for the second run on that occasion. Axar attempted a scoop off the last ball, didn't connect well and holed a straight catch to Naman Ojha just behind the wickets. 11 from the over.
AR Patel c Ojha b Kumar 15 (11b)
Over 18 | Score 147/6 (Miller 57; Axar 14)
Boult is back, 57 needed from 18. Axar smashed the first ball straight down the ground for a boundary. Axar worked the second ball towards long-on for a single to bring Miller back on strike. Miller made room for himself off the third ball and slapped it over bacward point for a Six which also brought his fifty off just 31 balls. He is trying the best he can do here! Boult followed it with a yorker and Miller didn't connect with that one as the ball missed the stumps by a few inches. Boult bowled a low full-toss to Miller who tonked it over deep midwicket for a Six! Miller took a single off the last ball to keep the strike. 18 from the over. Boult has conceded 45 runs from 4 overs and has picked just one wicket.
Over 17 | Score 129/6 (Miller 44; Axar 9)
Bhuvi is back in attack, 70 needed off 24. Axar took a single off the first ball. Miller mistimed the second ball towards square leg and rushed back quickly for a second run. Miller once again mistimed the third ball towards midwicket and once again came back for two runs. Miller drilled the fourth ball towards deep midwicket, where Dhawan saved two runs for his team with an excellent diving effort. Bhuvi bowled a half-volley to Miller who slapped it straight down the ground for a Six! Miller tried another big hit off the last ball, didn't connect on that occasion. 13 from the over but not sufficient for Punjab.
Over 16 | Score 116/6 (Miller 32; Axar 8)
Ishant back in attack. Axar took a single off the first ball. He bowled a short one to Miller, the fine leg was inside the circle and Miller hit it over the fielder for a boundary. Miller created room for himself by shuffling towards the off side, but didn't connect with the ball and was lucky as the ball went over the stumps. Ishant followed it with a yorker, it hit Miller on the pads and they ran a bye. Ishant bowled a wide. Ishant bowled a half-volley to Axar who timed it beautifully over the bowler's head for a boundary. Axar worked the last ball towards deep fine leg for a single.
Over 15 | Score 104/6 (Miller 28; Axar 2)
Henriques to bowl his final over. Gurkeerat was looking to turn the first ball down the leg side, but got an edge which went straight to Morgan at gully. Punjab in big big trouble. Axar Patel is the new man in. 5 from the over and Punjab need 82 runs off the next 30 balls. With Bhuvi's two overs remaining, it's not going to be easy. Time for a strategic break and Miller should go for the kill to salvage some pride for his team.
Gurkeerat Singh c Morgan b Henriques 3 (5b)
Over 14 | Score 99/5 (Miller 27; Gurkeerat 3)
Karn into his second over. Miller charged down the wicket off the first ball and smashed it over long-on for a Six! Miller powerfully slog-swept the fifth ball high and long over midwicket for a Six!
Over 13 | Score 83/5 (Miller 13; Gurkeerat 1)
Moises to bowl his second over. He bowled a short ball to Bailey and he holed it straight to Warner at covers. Nothing working for KXIP here. Miller is their only hope. Gurkeerat Singh is the new man in and his role would be to rotate the strike as much as possible.
Over 12 | Score 79/4 (Miller 11; Bailey 5)
Karn Sharma brought into the attack. Excellent over from the leggie, David Miller was lucky on more than one occasion in that over.
Over 11 | Score 74/4 (Miller 9; Bailey 2)
Moises to continue. Just four from the over. These two cannot let these overs go by scoring just four or five runs off them.
Over 10 | Score 70/4 (Miller 7; Bailey 1)
Boult into his third over. George Bailey is the new man in. This will be a make or break partnership for Punjab. 5 from the over.
Over 9 | Score 65/4 (Miller 3)
Henriques comes into attack. Just three runs came off the first five ball, with pressure building Saha took a chance off the last ball, hit it towards mid-off where Lokesh Rahul held on to an excellent low catch. Successful over for Henriques!
WP Saha c Rahul b Henriques 5 (10b)
Over 8 | Score 62/3 (Saha 4; Miller 1)
Trent Boult has been brought into the attack. He offered width to Maxwell off the second ball which was slapped past covers for a boundary. But Boult had the last laugh as he followed it with an excellent short ball and Maxi edged it behind the wicket. Another failure for Maxwell, big big relief for SRH. David Miller is the new man in.
Over 7 | Score 55/2 (Saha 2; Maxwell 7)
Bipul to continue. Vohra took a chance off the first ball, but mistimed it towards long-on where Bhuvi took an easy catch. That's a soft dismissal! Time for The Big Show – Glenn Maxwell is the new man in! Maxwell charged down the wicket off the last ball and hammered it straight down the ground for a Six!
M Vohra c Kumar b Bipul Sharma 20 (15b)
Over 6 | Score 47/1 (Vohra 20; Saha 2)
Ishant to continue. Good over this, five from it.
Over 5 | Score 42/1 (Vohra 17; Saha 0)
Time for spin, Bipul Sharma introduced into the attack. Second ball was a half-volley and Vohra played a magnificent shot over covers for a boundary. He bowled a flighted delivery to Vijay outside the off-stump, the batsman played a half-hearted shot towards short cover and Shikhar Dhawan grabbed a good catch diving to his right! SRH finally have a breakthrough! Wriddhiman Saha is the new man in. Superb start for Bipul Sharma!
M Vijay c Dhawan b Bipul Sharma 24 (18b)
Over 4 | Score 37/0 (Vijay 20; Vohra 5)
Ishant Sharma brought into the attack. He bowled one down the leg side and Vohra timed it well over deep square leg for a Six! Ishant bowled a bouncer to Vijay, who once again got a top edge, which on that occasion went over the keeper's head for a boundary. Luck has favoured the KXIP openers so far. 11 from the over, frustration for SRH bowlers.
Over 3 | Score 26/0 (Vijay 20; Vohra 5)
Bhuvi to continue. He started with one down the leg side and Vohra timed it well past square leg for his first boundary. Vijay tried a pull off the last ball, got a top edge, which sailed past third man for a boundary. Good comeback by Punjab after scoring just 1 in the first over.
Over 2 | Score 17/0 (Vijay 16; Vohra 1)
Trent Boult to bowl from the other end. He started with a length ball and Vijay flicked it over deep square leg for a handsome Six! Second ball was full again and Vijay timed it well between midwicket and mid-on for a boundary. Boult's last delivery of the over drifted down the leg side and Vijay just guided it towards fine leg for a boundary. Superb over for KXIP, good hitting by Vijay, 16 from the over.
Over 1 | Score 1/0 (Vijay 1; Vohra 0)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to bowl the first over, Murali Vijay and Manan Vohra to open for KXIP. Good start for Bhuvi, just 1 from the first over.
Over 20 | Score 185/5 (Rahul 17; Sharma 11)
Sandeep to bowl the final over. He started with a full-toss and Karn slapped it over long-on for a Six! Sandeep bowled a yorker to Rahul who cheekily timed it past third man for a boundary. Rahul worked the last ball, a yorker, back to the bowler, they ran for a single, Sandeep missed the easy run out chance as a result of which they ran an extra single. 15 from the over. This is a formidable score by the Sunrisers!
Over 19 | Score 170/3 (Rahul 10; Sharma 3)
Anureet to bowl his final over. Rahul slapped the fourth ball towards deep square leg, it looked like it was going for a six, but Manan Vohra jumped, threw the ball inside the ropes as he himself fell behind the ropes, incredible effort and he saved four valuable runs for his team there. He ended his spell with a full-toss and Rahul pummelled it over deep midwicket for a Six! 11 from the over. SRH would want to score at least 15 runs from the last over.
Over 18 | Score 159/3 (Rahul 1; Sharma 1)
Hendricks to bowl his final over. He bowled a yorker to Warner who holed it straight to Gurkeerat at midwicket. That's a soft dismissal. Warner is extremely disappointed with that stroke. Lokesh Rahul is the new man in. Rahul worked the second ball towards short cover, Ojha wanted a single but was sent back, Bailey's direct throw was good enough to catch Ojha short of his crease. Karn Sharma is the new man in. Just two runs from the over. SRH are reeling in the death overs.
NV Ojha run out 2 (3b)
DA Warner c Gurkeerat Singh b Hendricks 81 (52b)
Over 17 | Score 157/3 (Warner 81; Ojha 2)
Anureet is back in attack. He bowled a wide full-toss to Warner who slapped it over deep cover for a boundary! Warner once again made room for himself off the fourth ball and hit it over covers for another boundary. 10 from the over.
Over 16 | Score 147/3 (Warner 72; Ojha 1)
Hendricks is back. He bowled one to Morgan on the leg stump, he flicked it towards deep square leg where Vohra dived to his front to take an excellent catch. Naman Ojha is the new man in. Seven from the over. With four overs remaining, SRH should be looking to score at least 50 more runs from here onwards.
EJG Morgan c Vohra b Hendricks 17 (7b)
Over 15 | Score 140/2 (Warner 67; Morgan 17)
Maxwell to bowl his third over. Morgan was down the wicket in a flash off the second ball and he slapped it straight down the ground for a Six! Third ball was slightly fuller and Morgan once again went over the bowler's head, for another Six! Morgan made room for himself off the fourth ball and launched it over covers for a boundary. Superb hitting from Morgan! This should take a lot of pressure off Warner. 17 from the over.
Over 14 | Score 123/2 (Warner 67; Morgan 0)
Gurkeerat to bowl his third over. He started with a juicy full-toss to Warner and he launched it over midwicket for another Six! Moises charged down the wicket off the fourth ball, Gurkeerat saw that and he bowled it slower, Moises mistimed it towards deep midwicket where Anureet took a good catch inches inside the boundary.
MC Henriques c Anureet Singh b Gurkeerat Singh 28 (24b)
Over 13 | Score 114/1 (Warner 58; Henriques 28)
Axar is back. Warner made room off the second ball and whacked it over deep cover for a Six which also brought his fifty off 36 balls. Well played captain! Fifth ball was a fuller one and Warner smashed it once again over deep midwicket for another Six! One has to feel for the bowlers. Warner is in a very brutal mood! 15 from the over.
Over 12 | Score 99/1 (Warner 44; Henriques 27)
Maxwell is back in attack. It was proving to be another good over but Moises got a bottom edge off the last ball which rushed between the wicketkeeper's legs for a boundary.
Over 11 | Score 90/1 (Warner 39; Henriques 21)
Sandeep to bowl his third over. Just four from the over.
Over 10 | Score 86/1 (Warner 39; Henriques 19)
Hendricks has been brought back. He started the over with a front-foot no-ball to Warner. The free-hit ball was a yorker and Henriques worked it past square leg for a boundary. Henriques got an edge off the fourth ball which rushed past third man for a boundary. 13 from the over.
Over 9 | Score 73/1 (Warner 37; Henriques 9)
Axar Patel has been brought into the attack. Just four from the over. Time for a strategic break as well. Warner will have to decide the way he wants to shape his innings today.
Over 8 | Score 69/1 (Warner 30; Henriques 7)
Gurkeerat to bowl his second over. Henriques was down the wicket first ball and he cleared midwicket for a boundary. He ended the over with a short ball to Warner who smacked it past wide of long-on for a boundary. 11 from the over.
Over 7 | Score 58/1 (Warner 30; Dhawan 24)
Here is Maxwell. Dhawan shimmied down the track off the first ball, missed it completely and was stumped! Maxi has got Punjab the much-needed breakthrough! Moises Henriques is the new man in. SRH need another good knock from him today. Superb over for Punjab, just two runs and a wicket for Maxwell.
S Dhawan st Saha b Maxwell 24 (18b)
Over 6 | Score 56/0 (Warner 30; Dhawan 24)
Anureet to bowl his second over. Dhawan survived a run out chance off the second ball where he took a quick single by working the ball on the off side and had Maxwell's throw hit the stumps, he was gone by some distance! Some respite for KXIP, just three from the over.
Over 5 | Score 53/0 (Warner 29; Dhawan 23)
Change in strategy, spin introduced, Gurkeerat Singh to bowl his first over. Warner charged down the wicket off the second ball to make some room and whacked it between point and covers for a boundary. Decent over, 7 from it.
Over 4 | Score 46/0 (Warner 24; Dhawan 21)
He started by offering width first ball to Dhawan who timed it well past covers for a boundary. Dhawan got an edge off the second ball which rushed past third man for another boundary. He too bowled short ball to Warner which was easily dispatched over deep midwicket for another Six by the Australian! 18 from the over, SRH are off to a flier here!
Over 3 | Score 28/0 (Warner 17; Dhawan 11)
Sandeep to continue. He bowled the fourth ball down the leg side and Dhawan timed it well past fine leg for a boundary. Dhawan charged down the wicket off the fifth ball which had width on offer and he drove it past covers for another boundary. These two have made the intentions pretty clear with their aggressive strokes.
Over 2 | Score 19/0 (Warner 17; Dhawan 2)
Anureet Singh to bowl from the other end. Second ball was banged short and Warner pulled it over midwicket for a boundary. He bowled another short ball to Warner who pulled it over deep midwicket for a Six. Warner was offered width off the last ball and he played it fine through covers to make it an excellent over for SRH! 14 from the over.
Over 1 | Score 5/0 (Warner 3; Dhawan 2)
Sandeep Sharma to bowl the first over, David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan to open for SRH. Good start from the speedster, just 5 from the first over.
TOSS: David Warner won the toss and decided to bat first on what looks like a batsman's paradise!
KXIP are struggling to find their momentum and even though their swashbuckling batsman Glen Maxwell found some form in the previous match, they have been a shadow of themselves from the previous year.
The bowlers have failed miserably and it is evident from the fact that Mitchell Johnson, their premier bowler in the tournament has hardly managed to intimidate the batsmen and has leaked plenty of runs.
SRH on the other hand are possibly the only team in the tournament who are playing without an overseas pacer. With Ishant Sharma being fully fit, Sunrisers have played both Praveen Kumar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the last few matches and have strengthened their batting order with the inclusion of Eoin Morgan.
With Warner, Dhawan, Henriques, Morgan and Bopara in the squad, their batting department looks much more balanced now and they need to deliver as a unit to rise in the points table. A win against Punjab would take SRH to fourth position in the points table.
