Sunrisers Hyderabad
Credits: BCCI

Continuing their red-hot form with the ball, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) defended another low total to beat Kings XI Punjab by 13 runs at their home venue. The Hyderabad-based unit scored only 132 but it turned out to be enough in the end.

Chasing a modest 133, Kings XI Punjab found themselves firmly in command after their openers stitched together a fifty-plus stand.

Chris Gayle and KL Rahul did not make the usual firing start but laid the foundation for an easy chase with a 55-run stand.

However, Sunrisers dismissed both of them to add some excitement – to the game which was drifting towards Kings XI with every ball.

Rashid Khan ended the stand by scalping Rahul for 32. Two runs later, Basil Thampi caught and bowled Gayle to give his team a glimmer of hope.

Mayank Agarwal and Karun Nair then steadied the ship for a while before Shakib Al Hasan struck. The Bangladesh all-rounder accounted for Agarwal – to reduce the Kings XI to 77 for three.

Well, fice runs later, Rashid Khan sent back Karun Nair to turn the game on its head.

Sunrisers then clawed their way back in the game after Shakib dismissed Aaron Finch to leave the visitors reeling at 88 for five.

At the end of the 15th over, the Kings XI were 91 for five. Sandeep Sharma then put the hosts firmly on top by dismissing Kings XI’s last recognized batsman – Manoj Tiwary. The score at that time was only 92.

It looked all over for Kings XI when they were reduced to 101 for nine. However, Ankit Rajpoot and Mujeeb Ur Rahman kept them in the hunt.

The equation was finally down to 15 off the last over. But the duo could not take their team past the finishing line as Kings XI were all out for 119.

Read More  Irfan Pathan explodes on Hardik Pandya after the Mumbai Indians' captain brings shame to his team

Earlier in the game, Rajpoot’s stunning spell helped Kings XI to restrict Sunrisers to a modest total of 132 for six. He ran through the Sunrisers’ lineup, picking up this season’s first five-for to put his team on top.

Paceman finished the game with stunning figures of five for 14 off his 4 overs.

Sent in to bat first, the hosts were off to a shaky start and were reeling at 27 for three  Their top-three –  Kane Williamson, Shikhar Dhawan, and Wriddhiman Saha were back in the hut cheaply. All three of them perished to Rajpoot.

Manish Pandey and Shakib Al Hasan then stopped the rot for a while.  The duo managed to steady the ship but could not quite accelerate before Mujeeb Ur Rahman broke the stand.

The Afghanistan spinner accounted for Shakib to end the 52-run stand. The Bangladesh star scored  28 off 29.

Pandey remained till the very end, scoring 54 before being sent back by Rajpoot in the last over. Yusuf Pathan played a handy knock of 21 to help his side post a respectable total.

On the last ball of the innings, Rajpoot accounted for Mohammad Nabi to complete his five-wicket haul against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the game:

https://twitter.com/sagarcasm/status/989565995311403008

https://twitter.com/hankypanty/status/989533436040892417

https://twitter.com/Unis100/status/989567278558539776

Read More  Tim David angry with Hardik Pandya? Australian all-rounder's ballistic missiles go viral after Mumbai's loss to SRH

Also, read: IPL 2018: Rohit Sharma Should Open for Mumbai Indians – Lalchand Rajput

An avid cricket lover, I just love this game more than anything. Writing about cricket keeps me closer to the game.