Warner effort ensures narrow SRH win

Press Trust of India

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Hyderabad, May 11: Aided by a blistering knock from skipper David Warner (81, 52b, 6×4, 5×6) hosts Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) inflicted the 10^th defeated on Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) at the Uppal Stadium here Monday. After posting a commanding total of 185 for the loss five wickets, SRH bowlers somehow managed to restrict the marauding David Miller (89 n o, 44b, 2×4, 9×6) to scrape through by five runs.

KXIP were never in the fray during the game except for the last five overs when Miller exploded. The 16^th over bowled by Ishant Sharma went for 12, the 17^th by Bhuvneshwar Kumar went for 13, the 18^th by Boult went for 18 and suddenly KXIP were back in a match that everyone had written them off. When the last over started, the Kings needed 28 to win. Miller hit Ishant for three sixes and a boundary, but in the end it proved too much for him. It was exhilarating hitting at its best and for a moment, it appeared that the Sun was about to go down in its own domain.

Prior to that, the hosts’ bowlers delivered the coup de grace by maintaining the right line and length. Murali Vijay (24, 18b, 4×4, 1×6) and Manan Vohra (20, 15b, 2×4, 1×6) threatened for a brief while only to fail again. Moses Henriques (3/16) bowled an economical and destructive spell that sealed the final nail on the coffin for the visitors.

Vijay started well hitting Kiwi pacer Trent Boult over long-leg for a six and two fours in the second over off the innings. But he fell in spinner Bipul Sharma’s first over to a nothing shot. KXIP hopes again rested on Glenn Maxwell, but the Aussies disappointing form with the bat continued as he fell playing a lazy shot to a Boult outswinger.

Earlier Warner made his aggressive intent from the start hitting Anureet Singh for two sixes and a boundary in the second over of the innings. His partner Sikhar Dhawan (24, 18b, 4×4) was also at his attacking best and the two put on 56 runs for the opening stand in 37 balls. After Dhawan’s departure, it was time for Henriques (28, 24b, 4×4) to join the party and he put on 65 runs for the second wicket with Warner.  Some lower-order hitting by KL Rahul (17 n o, 10b, 1×4, 1×6) and Karn Sharma (11, 7b 1×6) took the hosts past the 180-run mark.

Brief scores: SRH 185 for 5 (David Warner 81) beat KXIP 180 for 7 (David Miller 89 n o, Moses Henriques 3/16) by five runs.