IPL 2018, Match 4, SRH v RR: Hosts Thrash Royals Courtesy Impressive all-round Performance

Champions of the 2016 Indian Premier League (IPL), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) began their campaign in the 11^th edition on a winning note. The hosts defeated Rajasthan Royals by nine wickets.

It was some performance by the Hyderabad outfit. First, they managed to restrict Rajasthan to a below-par score of 125. Barring a 49 from Sanju Samson, no batsmen got past the 20-run mark.

Shakib Al Hasan and Siddarth Kaul were the wrecker-in-chief bagging a couple of wickets respectively.

Shikhar Dhawan played a brilliant knock of which was studded with fours and sixes.

Kane Williamson also chipped in with a well-composed knock of 77. They ensured that no wickets fell in the remaining over Hyderabad chased the total down with 26 deliveries to spare.

It was the run out inflicted by Kane Williamson which got Hyderabad going. Rahane and Sanju Samson chipped in with a 46-run partnership.

Rahane struggled through the in innings and was finally dismissed on 13. Shakib Al Hasan bowled superbly but the pick of Hyderabad bowlers was Siddharth Kaul who returned with magnificent figures of two for 17 in his allotted 4 overs.

They kept the score down and took wickets at regular intervals. And never really allowed them to push the run-rate up. Rajasthan eventually ended up scoring 125.

Chasing a below par total, Hyderabad didn’t got off to a good start losing Wriddhima Saha, the new makeshift opener. It was Jaydev Unaadkat, who bagged the early wicket.

However from there on it was a roller coaster ride for the pair of Shikhar Dhawan and Kane Williamson.

Dhawan’s innings was studded with 12 fours and a six while Williamson’s included three fours and a six. The win will surely boost the Hyderabad franchise going into the tournament.