IPL 2018: Rishabh Pant Played a Special Knock - Kane Williamson

The Sunrisers Hyderabad continued their winning run in Vivo IPL 11 by defeating the Delhi Daredevils quite comprehensively by nine wickets and with seven deliveries to spare. It was just a sensational display of batsmanship by Shikhar Dhawan and Kane Williamson which ensured Hyderabad chased the total of 187 runs in the penultimate over of the match.

Early in the day, it was a sensational inning by southpaw Rishabh Pant. The southpaw smashed 15 fours and seven sixes scoring 128 runs in just 63 deliveries. It was a great knock, as he toyed with the best bowling line-up in the tournament till now. However, Hyderabad made a meal of the 187 chase and reached home in a canter.

Courtesy their exceptional victory, Hyderabad strengthens their position at the top of the points table. They have now won nine matches out of 11 and is almost certain to finish at the top two positions. On a day when their bowlers went around the park against a sublime batting display of Rishabh Pant, the Hyderabad batters ensured they reached the stiff target with utmost comfort.

Pant smashed Bhuvneshwar Kumar for 26 runs in the final over to propel Delhi to 187 in their allotted 20 overs. Courtesy his once in a lifetime knock; Pant takes the orange cap from KL Rahul.

He also becomes the first batsman in this competition so far to amass 500 runs. Despite Delhi scoring 186, they were well aware of the fact that Hyderabad has a knack of winning and they will surely back themselves to win the match.

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After the opening wicket of Alex Hales, it was sensational strokeplay by Shikhar Dhawan in particular who got Hyderabad off to a flying start. Kane Williamson, on the other hand, started on a sedate fashion but picked on the scoring rate, as the innings progressed. Dhawan was at his ominous best and made the Delhi bowling line-up look clueless.

Williamson also started smashing boundaries at will towards the 2^nd half of the game. Delhi was never in the match, as they were unable to break the partnership. Dhawan eventually remained unbeaten on 92 off 50 deliveries which were studded with nine fours and four sixes.

Williamson also remained unbeaten on 83 off 53 deliveries which included eight fours and a couple of sixes.

Meanwhile, this is what the winning skipper Williamson said at the post-match presentation,

“We wanted to go out and keep playing as a team. And we have been playing on tough surfaces, so it was nice to go out and execute our batting plans. It’s always tough chasing here. (At the half-way stage) we thought it was a tough surface, keeping a touch low perhaps. Pant played a special knock. They had a score above par. Dew played a little part, yes. The wicket was a good surface towards the end. A bit of partnership at the top, which gave us the momentum. We were batting with intent when chasing 180. I think when you are rotating the strike the boundaries start to come. It was nice to get that partnership. Shikhar was outstanding; certainly, put them on the back foot.”

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