Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Kings XI Punjab by 7 wickets at PCA Stadium, Mohali just few moments ago. It was an excellent batting display by Kings XI Punjab to post a competitive total but Sunrisers chased down the target with another captain’s knock by Warner. By the virtue of this win, Sunrisers becomes the first team to qualify for playoffs.
- Steady start by Kings XI Punjab openers
Kings XI Punjab won the toss and choose to bat. Hashim Amla played some wonderful strokes off Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ashish Nehra to put pressure on the Sunrisers bowling line up. Murali Vijay just took singles and gave strike to Hashim Amla. It was an excellent display of batting by Hashim Amla and Vijay to set a big platform for a big total. Both of them put on 33 runs for the first wicket in 4.1 overs before Vijay was dismissed for 6.
- Brilliant innings by Hashim Amla
Hashim Amla who did not contribute till today for Kings XI Punjab, was looking at his best with some excellent shots of fast bowlers in the powerplay overs. After the power play overs he continued to play wonderful strokes off Karn Sharma. He completed his half century off 30 balls. After raising his first IPL half century he continued to attack the bowlers and played improvised shots of Nehra and then their best bowler Rahman. Hashim Amla was dismissed for 96 on the second last bowl of the innings which helped Kings XI Punjab a competitive total of 179.
- Useful contribution from Saha and Gurkeerat Singh Mann
After the fall of Murali Vijay’s wicket, Saha joined with Hashim Amla. Hashim Amla playing big strokes, Saha played sensibly taking singles and hitting occasional boundaries. Saha and Hashim Amla put on 54 for the second wicket. Saha trying a big stroke was caught for 27. The next man in Gurkeerat Singh Mann timed the ball right from the start which put pressure on Sunrisers bowlers. Mann contributed 27 useful runs off 20 balls and put up another good stand with Hashim Amla off 61 for the third wicket.
- Good opening stand between Dhawan and Warner
Chasing a target of 180 to win, Sunrisers captain continued his brilliant form in the tournament with bat. In the first four overs Sunrisers openers Dhawan and David Warner gave the team a good start with Warner scoring 19 was from bat of David Warner and 10 off Shikhar Dhawan in the first four overs. David Warner smashed the Kings XI Punjab bowlers to all parts of the ground. In the first six overs Sunrisers got off to a good start 55 runs. In the next over Shikhar Dhawan was run out which ended 66 runs stand for the first wicket.
- Yuvraj Singh cameo knock
Yuvraj Singh came to the crease when Sunrisers required in the 12th over at the fall of Warner wicket. He looked in fine form right from ball 1 and smashed Patel for boundary on the second ball. Hooda who was going great guns was dismissed for 34. The 17th over, Patel bowled an excellent over giving away 2 runs. After that Yuvraj Sing smashed one four and one six of Mohit Sharma to tilt the match in Sunrisers favour. In the last over Yuvraj Singh smashed a huge six to remain not out on 42 off 23 balls.