Sunrisers Hyderabad managed to defend yet another below-par total in the ongoing IPL on Thursday. This has almost become a trend with the Hyderabad franchise, who managed to restrict Kings XI Punjab – known as one of the stronger batting sides of the tournament – to just 106.
The SRH bowling unit once again put on a fantastic show to make up for the lackluster batting performance. Rashid Khan was the star performer, picking up 3 wickets whilst conceding just 19 runs from his 4 overs. Shakib Al Hasan finished with 2 for 18 in 3 overs, while Sandeep Sharma and Basil Thampi also picked up a couple of wickets each in equally economic spells.
Unlike most games, the Man of the Match award went to a player from the losing side in this game. Kings XI fast bowler Ankit Rajpoot had the spell of his life when he picked up 5 out of the 6 wickets taken during the Sunrisers’ innings, which also marked the first 5-wicket haul of the tournament.
The SRH innings got off to a disastrous start as Ankit Rajpoot picked up wickets in each of his first 3 overs, leaving the team in complete disarray at 27 for 3. Manish Pandey, who was the top scorer for SRH with 54, and Shakib steadied the ship by putting up a hard-earned 63-run partnership. When Shakib was dismissed for 21, Yusuf Pathan stepped in to give Manish the necessary support to take the Sunrisers to a fighting total of 132.
Punjab started the innings very well and looked to be on course to a comfortable victory. KL Rahul and Chris Gayle, who were the team’s top scorers with 32 and 23 respectively, put up 55 runs for the first wicket. When the pair was dismissed within 3 balls, leaving the score at 57 for 2, the Hyderabad bowlers sensed a chance at a comeback. They bundled out the rest of the side in just 11 overs. KXIP lost their last 8 wickets for just 62 runs in that time.
This result puts the 2 teams in second and third positions of the table. Both teams are tied with 10 points each, but SRH have a higher net run-rate, therefore taking them ahead of KXIP.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to SRH’s win over KXIP:
It hurts when U lose a game that we should have won ! Full marks to SRH 4 keeping their cool & 4 outplaying us👍Hope this will be a good wake up call 4us halfway into the tournament.We R better than this & we will be back better & stronger. #SRHVsKXIP #Disappointed @lionsdenkxip
— Preity G Zinta (@realpreityzinta) April 26, 2018
Self-belief is the word to best describe our bowlers. Two matches in a row, and successfully defending low scores just shows the enormous belief and skills of the bowlers. They have been outstanding and brilliantly led by Kane once again. #SRHvKXIP
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) April 26, 2018
So refreshing to watch an IPL team win matches purely because they have a super strong bowling attack. SRH is a team to watch out for this IPL! #SRHvKXIP
— Richa Singh (@richa_singh) April 26, 2018
Not the result we would have liked, but happy with the first half of the tournament.5 out of 7 we will take it. Have a week’s break now. Congratulations @SunRisers on the victory & a great effort from young Ankit Rajpoot becoming the first Punjab bowler to take a 5-for #SRHvKXIP
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) April 26, 2018
Must say, great effort & a terrific performance by @SunRisers in their win by 13 runs! The bowlers did it!
Low scores have their own surprise!#SRHvKXIP— Rahul Dev (@RahulDevRising) April 26, 2018
The @SunRisers can defend the undefendable. Rashid Khan is brilliant but the way Sid Kaul, Sandeep Sharma, Thampi exert and maintain pressure is fantastic. Great effort to defend this against Punjab #SRHvKXIP
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 26, 2018
https://twitter.com/Troll_Tollywood/status/989566053930823680
You make 118, don't bat out 20 overs and win by 31. Even they wouldn't have thought this margin was possible. #SunrisersHyderabad. Performance of #IPL2018
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 24, 2018
Sunrisers Hyderabad are a wonderful team to watch: show what is possible with a great bowling attack in T20. The power of bowling: across T20 leagues, sides who restrict opponents to 10% below average win more than those who score 10% above average.
— Tim Wigmore (@timwig) April 26, 2018
Best bowling figures on the losing side in the IPL:
6/19 – Adam Zampa for RPS, 2016
5/14 – Ankit Rajpoot for KXIP, Today
5/16 – James Faulkner for RR, 2013All against Sunrisers Hyderabad. #IPL2018 #SRHvKXIP
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) April 26, 2018
How low can these guys go! Stunning performance @SunRisers! #WhistlePodu #SRHvKXIP
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 26, 2018
SRH bowlers spoiling their batsmen. #SRHvKXIP
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) April 26, 2018
Sunrisers Hyderabad #SRH has to be one of the best sides in T20 cricket while defending small totals!#SRHvsKXIP #SRHvKXIP#IPL2018
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) April 26, 2018
On One Hand There's #RCB Failing To Defend 200+ And Then There's #SRH Defending 120+ Like A BOSS. 💪🙏👏 #OrangeArmy #SRHvKXIP
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) April 26, 2018
Congratulations C-H-A-M-P-I-O-N-S
what a Victory….
What a team it has become…. Dey can even defend 90 runs…. Just Imagine power of Bowlers
Take a bow @SunRisers entyr Team#Afghanistan Superstar @rashidkhan_19 your inspiration to Millions RESPECT#SRHvKXIP #KXIPvSRH
— Rohit Jaiswal (@rohitjswl01) April 26, 2018
