Hyderabad: Bowlers and Jonny Bairstow (61 n o, 44b, 3×4, 3×6) helped Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) register a comfortable 6-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their IPL encounter here, Wednesday.
Chasing a small target of 133, SRH were off to a flying start, courtesy David Warner’s (50, 25b, 10×4) electrifying half century, as the Aussie, along with Bairstow added 66 runs for the opening wicket in 5.4 overs before Warner’s departure.
However, Bairstow watchfully carried his innings, helping his team script their fourth win, reaching the target with more than three overs, in eight matches in spite of some hiccups in the process. This was CSK’s second loss in nine matches. Imran Tahir (2/20) was the pick of the CSK bowlers.
Earlier, SRH bowled a nagging line and length to restrict CSK to 132/5. Leading the side in the absence of MS Dhoni, who was rested for the game because of back spasm, Suresh Raina opted to bat after the coin landed in his favour. But the decision did not work wonders for the visitors as the Sunrisers bowlers produced a disciplined effort to pick up five wickets for 22 runs.
Opener Faf du Plessis (45, 31b, 3×4, 3×6) was the top scorer and he added 79 runs for the opening wicket with Shane Watson (31). CSK did not have much to cheer about after that as the hosts made a remarkable comeback. Ignored for the World Cup, Ambati Rayadu remained not out on 25 off 21 balls.
While leg-spinner Rashid Khan (2/17) was the most successful bowler, seamers Bhuvneshwar Kumar (0/21) and Khaleel Ahmed (1/22) were also miserly.
It was a quite beginning for CSK as Bhuvneshwar conceded just one run in the opening over. Complementing his senior pace partner, Khaleel also bowled a tight first over, giving away only three runs.
In a manner least convincing, CSK found their first boundary when Watson’s thick edge went flying over the slip cordon.
Du Plessis drove Khaleel over his head for a boundary in the fourth over, a proper cricketing shot this time around, and CSK followed that with a flurry of fours and sixes.
Having added 79 runs in just under 10 overs, Watson was bowled by left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem, giving the home fans something to cheer about after a prolonged wait. The Australia’s dismissal triggered a collapse, from which the Super Kings struggled to recover.
Brief scores: Chennai Super Kings 132/5 (Faf du Plessis 45, Shane Watson 31; Rashid Khan 2/17) lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad 137/4 (Jonny Bairstow 61 n o, David Warner 50; Imran Tahir 2/20) by 6 wickets.
