Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) suffered an embarrassing defeat by 61 runs at the hands of Sanju Samson’s Rajasthan Royals (RR). The bottom-placed team of last season of Indian Premier League (IPL), did not benefit from spending big bucks in the mega auction on top order batters as it crumbled against Royals’ lethal new-ball bowlers. With a massive win, Royals got a head start over other teams in the net run rate department (NRR) as well to reach the top of points table.
Epic collapse
SRH’s run chase of 211 got off to a horrendous start Opening the innings Kane Williamson became Prasidh Krishna's first victim in the second over. Abhishek Sharma tried to do the damage control by Rahul Tripathi bagged a three-ball duck. Picked for 10.75 crore in the mega auction, Nicholas Pooran had a miserable stay at the crease. Trent Boult ended Pooran's misery by getting him out for a nine-ball duck. In the fifth over, SRH's score read 9/3. SRH could manage just 14 runs in the powerplay overs which is the joint-lowest in IPL history.
Meanwhile, Abhishek lost his patience as well and got out trying to play a rash shot off the second delivery of Yuzvendra Chahal's first over. The uncapped Abdul Samad did not live upto the expectations as well. Chahal got rid of Samad for a single-digit score. SRH lost half their side in the 11th over for a disappointing score of 37.
Markram prevents low score, Sundar fires
Debutant Romario Shepherd tried to provide some entertainment for the SRH fans but he could hit only two sixes. Shepherd contributed with an 18-ball 23. On the other end, Aiden Markram prevented the Hyderabad-based franchise from getting bundled out.
In the death overs, Washington Sundar infused some life into the game with his big hitting. The SRH all-rounder punished Nathan Coulter Nile with a 24-run over. Markram accelerated towards the end as well. Sundar played a whirlwind knock of 40 off 14 deliveries laced with five fours and two sixes. Boult came back into the attack and got rid of Sundar in the penultimate over.
Bowling the final over, Coulter-Nile bowled a no ball and walked off the field limping. His over was completed by Riyan Parag. In the last over, Markram got his maiden IPL half-century from 39 deliveries. He also hit a huge maximum off Parag and remained unbeaten for 57 off 41 deliveries to take SRH's score to 149/7. For Royals, Chahal picked up three wickets whereas Boult and Krishna took two wickets each.
No balls cost SRH
Earlier Royals' openers were given too many chances by SRH bowlers bowling no balls. Jos Buttler was given a repreieve in the first over of the innings as Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled a no ball off the ball he got his wicket. Buttler made Sunrisers pay for that with a 28-ball 35 whereas Yashasvi Jaiswal contributed with 16-ball 20 to the 58-run opening partnership.
Samson, Padikkal lay platform
Skipper Samson and Devdutt Padikkal attacked from the start and put pressure on SRH bowlers in the middle overs. Padikkal missed his half-century on Royals' debut. Batting at no.4 for the first time, he scored 41 runs from 29 deliveries. Samson went on to score 55 runs from 27 deliveries including three fours and five sixes. With the fifth six, he also became Royals' leading six-hitter in IPL.
Hetmyer provides ideal finish
In the death overs, Shimron Hetmyer played a 13-ball 32 cameo to help his side get to 210/6. For SRH, Washington Sundar turned out to be the most expensive bowler as he leaked 47 runs from his three overs.
