IPL 2018: Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Kings XI Punjab by 13 runs
Sunrisers Hyderabad has done it again, defending a lowly total two games running. Even the Mumbai Indians' batting was not as bad as this. They were bowled out. This was throwing away wickets... perfect gifts. Blast from the past... Kings Punjab is showing why they have never won the IPL.
FollowThis is possibly the worst batting display from KXIP this season. Running out of words to describe this shambolic batting from KXIP.Â
What a game this was! A collective bowling performance by Hyderabad has eclipsed Rajpoot's five. Gayle and Rahul started off really well as they have been doing this season, but after Rashid had the latter removed, Punjab began to crumble. Gayle fell to Basil Thampi, and the only other in-form batsmen, Karun, also fell to Rashid soon after. Wickets continued to tumble rapidly and very soon it was over for Punjab. Punjab's sloppy fielding came back to bite them, they dropped Manish Pandey thrice in the course of his 54, including once while on single digits.
A lot of credit must go to Williamson, who despite defending a low total, held back Rashid for the latter stages. And that, I guess, made a massive difference. The rest of the bowlers garnished Rashid's efforts and vindicated the tag of the 'best bowling side' of this IPL.
Rashid Khan maintained a reasonable economy rate and kept the batsmen at bay, soon he struck again, removing Karun Nair. Kings XI Punjab needed to contain the situation, but two consecutive appeals by Rashid put them back under pressure. Aaron Finch hit a six, but the temptation of hitting another cost him his wicket. Wickets were falling like a deck of cards for Kings XI Punjab. Somebody needed to take the responsibility at this crucial stage. SRH breathed life into the contest with high performance by their bowlers. Kings XI Punjab needed 42 runs after 15 overs with 5 wickets in hand.
Hyderabad posted a total of 132/6 against Punjab. Captain Kane Williamson scored a duck today, while Dhawan only managed 11. Saha too scored only 6. Manish Pandey scored a half-century, making 54 runs, while Shakib al Hasan scored 28. Yusuf Pathan scored 21 not out. Punjab bowlers impressed, as Ankit Rajpoot became the first bowler this season to take 5 wickets.
SRH 132/6 (20.0 Ovs)
KXIP 119-all out (19.2 Ovs)
 Sunrisers Hyderabad won by 13 runs
