An all-round bowling performance and a sensational opening stand between David Warner [85* off 58 balls[ and Wriddhiman Saha [58* off 45 balls] have helped SunRisers Hyderabad to beat Mumbai Indians by 10 wickets. In the process, the ‘Orange Army’ knocked Kolkata Knight Riders out of the IPL 2020 besides confirming their qualification for the playoffs.
Chasing 150, Wriddhiman Saha once again led the charge for SunRisers Hyderabad in the powerplay.
Saha stroked a four and a six off Nathan Coulter-Nile in the 2nd over of the innings to get himself going before stroking two more off Dhawal Kulkarni in the next over.
David Warner after a few sighters, launched into James Pattinson in the 4th over by taking him down for three consecutive boundaries, and in the process, the southpaw completed 500 fours in IPL cricket.
The duo continued to unleash the onslaught on MI’s attack, stroking boundaries off Rahul Chahar and Coulter-Nile in the next two overs to take the total to 0-56 in six overs.
The onslaught continued after the powerplay as Saha and Warner continued to milk the bowlers for singles and doubles besides carting the bad balls for boundaries, taking the total to 0-89 at the halfway mark. The duo reached their respective fifties in the 12th over of the innings and in the process, they also brought up their 100-run-stand.
While David Warner completed his 50 in 35 balls, Saha achieved it in a mere 34 deliveries, who complied his 2nd fifty in only his 3rd innings since his return to the side as an opener. Saha was absolutely brilliant when it came to piercing the gaps, especially against the spinners.
The Indian Test wicketkeeper formed a brilliant foil to the rampaging David Warner as SRH went in absolute cruise mode, reducing the equation down to 21 off 37 balls, which they achieved without breaking a sweat in the 18th over.
A disciplined bowling performance by SunRisers Hyderabad restricted Mumbai Indians to 8-149
With Mumbai Indians batting first, all eyes were on Rohit Sharma and the status of his injury. But Sharma’s stay at the crease turned out to be a brief one thanks to Sandeep Sharma, who induced a mistimed inside-out lofted drive.
Quinton de Kock once again looked in imperious touch. The South African smoked Sandeep Sharma for a four and two consecutive sixes in the 5th over but Sharma eventually had the last laugh as de Kock dragged a slower full-toss on his stumps, leaving MI at 2-39.
Just like QDK, SuryaKumar Yadav too looked in imperious touch from the very outset. Yadav announced his arrival with a check drive against Sandeep Sharma before he laid into Shahbaz Nadeem, smoking him for consecutive boundaries in the 6th over to take Mumbai Indians to 2-48 after the first powerplay.
Yadav survived a caught-and-bowled chance in the 7th over of the innings bowled by T Natarajan. Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan did not allow Rashid Khan to settle into a rhythm as they continued to milk him for singles and doubles besides punishing the odd bad delivery.
But Nadeem and Rashid Khan brought SRH roaring back in the contest after the former dismissed Yadav and Pollard in the same over before Khan dismissed Saurabh Tiwary to reduce Mumbai Indians from 2-81 to 5-82 within a space of six balls. Sandeep Sharma came back to dislodge Ishan Kishan for his third scalp while Jason Holder saw the back of Nathan Coulter-Nile to reduce Mumbai Indians to 7-116.
Kieron Pollard survived three close LBW calls and the burly all-rounder made full use of the reprieves as he smoked T Natarajan for three consecutive sixes in the 19th over before nailing Holder for another six in the next.
But Holder eventually had the last laugh as Pollard, in an attempt to slog the full-toss over deep mid-wicket, missed it completely.
Here’s how Twitter reacted-
10 wicket losses for MI in the IPL
v DC – April 2008
v RR – May 2011
v SRH – Nov 2020*10 wicket wins for SRH in the IPL
v GL – April 2016
v MI – Nov 2020*#IPL2020 #SRHvMI #SRH #MI— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) November 3, 2020
https://twitter.com/cricbuzz/status/1323678734830854144
Super impressed with @Wriddhipops. Who would have imagined Wridhi to be the X-factor for @SunRisers #SRHvsMI
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) November 3, 2020
Warner and #SRH peaking at the right time ,Batting ,Captaincy & Management all inclusive #IPL2020 #SRHvsMI
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) November 3, 2020
It's safe to say that David Warner is an IPL all-time great. Just look at those numbers. Stunning. https://t.co/sZ0OMvU7iL
— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) November 3, 2020
The last week began with so many possibilities, with every match being crucial to play-off aspirations. And every match has been one-sided! The same team has dominated and been crushed! The tail-end of the #IPL is a different beast.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 3, 2020
David Warner – Since IPL 2014 (When he joined SRH)
2014- 528
2015- 562
2016- 848
2017- 641
2019- 692
2020- 513500+ runs in six consecutive seasons. He's scored 3784 runs since start of 2014 IPL, more than any other player, despite missing the 2018 season#IPL2020 #SRHvMI #SRH
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) November 3, 2020
Scoring 500+ runs in a season most times in IPL #IPL2020 #SRHvMI
6 D Warner *
5 V Kohli
4 S Dhawan— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) November 3, 2020
Screw Samson, Screw Pant, King Saha should be the first name in our next T20 World Cup squad #IPL2020
— Udit (@udit_buch) November 3, 2020
As Indian Wicket Keeper batsmen, Samson, Saha & Kishen had a decent IPL. Not good news for Rishabh Pant.
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) November 3, 2020
What an extraordinary turnaround there has been for @SunRisers since Saha arrived. It has unleashed @davidwarner31 & made him,once again, the feared batsman who bosses the #IPL every year. The identical twin who was pottering around earlier has been revealed. The original is back
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 3, 2020
Wriddhiman Saha's #IPL2020
30 (31)
87 (45)
39 (32)
42 (27) and still going…Is he about to lead SRH into the playoffs? pic.twitter.com/snFD2huKk0
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) November 3, 2020
#SRH unstoppable today. Excellent bowling performance matched by excellent batting performance so far. #MI not in the game from the start
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) November 3, 2020
Good to see that @SunRisers are not pottering around and playing safe given it is not a huge target. They have to stay ahead of the asking rate as far as possible. These can be tricky chases
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 3, 2020
This is only the third time #MI haven't picked up a wicket in the powerplay this season.
v RCB – 59/0 (Lost – Super Over)
v RCB – 54/0 (Won)
v SRH – 56/0 – Today#IPL2020 #SRHvMI #SRH— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) November 3, 2020
I never thought removing Bairstow from opening spot would bring us this SRH. #IPL
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) November 3, 2020
5⃣0⃣0⃣ fours in the IPL for @davidwarner31! ?
Reaches the milestone with a hat-trick of boundaries!#SRHvMI #OrangeArmy #KeepRising pic.twitter.com/vkho2IPmaZ
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) November 3, 2020
DYK? Dhawal Kulkarni picked the first ever wicket for Mumbai Indians in IPL. (S Chanderpaul caught by Abhishek Nayar).#MI #SRHvMI
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) November 3, 2020
Jason Holder has taken 10 wickets in five matches he's played for SRH at 7.9 rpo & strike rate of 12.0
Of the 44 bowlers to have bowled 20+ overs this IPL, Holder has the best strike rate
Holder – 12.0
Rabada – 13.1
Bumrah – 13.5
Boult – 15.4
Siraj – 15.4#IPL2020 #SRHvMI #SRH— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) November 3, 2020
Jason Holder has been very good this IPL and success of such people makes you happy. #IPL2020
— Udit (@udit_buch) November 3, 2020
And as if to reiterate the master’s point – Dhawal gets hit on the helmet to a throw from the deep! Helmets IMPORTANT. @sachin_rt ?? #SRHvMI #SRHvsMI #srh #mi https://t.co/0QhAgoLIg0
— RK (@RK_sports) November 3, 2020
3000 runs and counting for @KieronPollard55 in IPL ??#Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/kv6RSx2lUQ
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) November 3, 2020
SRH last four bowling innings #IPL2020 #SRHvMI
126/7 by KXIP Dubai
131 by DC Dubai
120/7 by RCB Sharjah
149/8 by MI Sharjah— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) November 3, 2020
Brilliant work on the field by @SunRisers ! All the bowlers bowled exceptionally well, 150 to move to 3rd place , looks like it will be #SRH !#SRHvMI #IPL2020
— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) November 3, 2020
https://twitter.com/YourHarsh_/status/1323651398404243457?s=19
Rashid Khan today: 4-0-32-1 — This is the most runs conceded by him in a match this IPL. Previous most being 31 runs vs RCB in SRH's 1st match of the season. #IPL2020 #SRHvMI
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) November 3, 2020
At this stage #kkr batting slowly…
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) November 3, 2020
Was going to write something on Suryakumar Yadav but just going to post this GIF instead. #IPL2020 pic.twitter.com/DWQT04J2d7
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) November 3, 2020
Most wickets in first 6 overs in IPL:
53 – SANDEEP SHARMA
52 – Zaheer Khan
48 – Bhuvneshwar
45 – Umesh Yadav
44 – Dhawal Kulkarni#IPL2020 #SRHvMI— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) November 3, 2020
Rohit Sharma played this match to show BCCI he is fit. But got out early to take care of his injury. Smart move. #IPL
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) November 3, 2020
So we don't know too much more than we did! https://t.co/WdQWtke3FV
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 3, 2020
Rohit vs Sandeep (IPL)
Eight inngs
37 runs
Four dismissals
SR 88.09#SRHvsMI #SRH— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) November 3, 2020
Is #Hitman playing today to prove his match fitness for the selection down under ?? But wait didn't d coach said he will be missed in the tour ? #MI #MIvSRH
— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) November 3, 2020
Okay, make that 8 wickets for Sandeep!! ? https://t.co/t9Kdww4Z7N
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) November 3, 2020
Rohit Sharma is back. #MIvsSRH
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) November 3, 2020
Did you know – Dhawal Kulkarni is the only pacer to take a wicket in every single IPL edition so far. If he can take one today the record will hold. https://t.co/b3vCpjZpnH
— Gaurav Sundararaman (@gaurav_sundar) November 3, 2020
Dhawal Kulkarni is in the MI team today.
DID YOU KNOW: Dhawal Kulkarni played in MI’s first ever IPL match in 2008
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) November 3, 2020