David Warner and Jonny Bairstow
David Warner and Jonny Bairstow. (Credits: Twitter)

SunRisers Hyderabad batsman Jonny Bairstow struck the third fifty of IPL 2020 as his side cruised to a 69-run victory over Kings XI Punjab in the 22nd match in Dubai. Jonny Bairstow fell three runs short of his second IPL hundred as he became Ravi Bishnoi’s one of three victims. However, his 55-ball knock was enough for the Kings XI Punjab as they slumped to their fifth loss in six games.

Jonny Bairstow’s knock contained six sixes as both he and Warner went aggressively after Kings XI Punjab’s bowling attack. The Englishman took Ravi Bishnoi to the cleaners in the eighth over of the innings, clubbing two sixes and a four, sending 18 runs. It was two overs later that the keeper-batsman brought his fifty. Warner and Bairstow added 160 for the opening wicket following which even a collapse of six wickets could not stop them from reaching a 201.

It's Good Fun Batting With Him, We Know What A Quality Player He Is: Jonny Bairstow On David Warner
David Warner and Jonny Bairstow. (Credits: Twitter)

For Kings XI Punjab, West Indian batsman Nicholas Pooran was the only batsman to make a telling score and making runs freely. After KXIP lost three wickets within seven overs, Pooran launched a counterattack, carting Abdul Samad for 28 runs in one over and getting to a 17-ball half-century in the process. He fell for a 37-ball 77 in the 15th over, bringing an end to his side’s hopes for an unlikely victory.

“The dimensions and pitches here are different from conditions we expect in India” : Jonny Bairstow

It's Good Fun Batting With Him, We Know What A Quality Player He Is: Jonny Bairstow On David Warner
Jonny Bairstow. (Credits: Twitter)

Jonny Bairstow, who earned the man of the match award, felt pleased for top-scoring for the SunRisers and labelled a delight to bat with skipper David Warner. The Yorkshire batsman also underlined that the conditions, dimensions, and pitches are vastly different from the ones in India. Bairstow concluded by saying that his side held the nerve and knew that they would win, considering KXIP’s team composition.

I was pleased, obviously my third fifty, but the consistency of getting them back-to-back is key. [Batting with Warner] It’s good fun, we know what a quality player he is. I think it was his 50th fifty. That number speaks for him. Obviously the dimensions and pitches here are different from conditions we expect in India. The temperature is pretty different as well. [Defending the total] The guys held their nerve. We knew that with them picking six batters [we would be in the game],” Bairstow said in the post-match presentation.

Also Read: David Warner Admits He Was A ‘Bit Nervous’ During Nicholas Pooran’s Onslaught

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