Fifties by SRH’s top three subdue Kings XI at home
MOHALI: Propelled by brilliant half-centuries from Shikhar Dhawan (77), David Warner (51) and Kane Williamson (54), defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad recorded a convincing 26-run win over Kings XI Punjab at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in IPL 2017 on Friday.
SRH clobbered the Kings XI bowlers to set up a massive target of 208 runs and KXIP batsmen could not counter the brilliance of Sunrisers bowlers, who managed to keep things tight. In the end, KXIP finished on 181 for nine wickets, falling well short of the target. It was Sunrisers’ first away win in IPL 2017.
The David Warner-led team gave a scintillating performance with both bat and ball, while Siddarth Kaul and purple-cap holder Bhuvneshwar Kumar combined well and leg-spinner Rashid Khan impressed . In his quota of four overs, Rashid gave away 16 runs and removed Eoin Morgan (26).
Shaun Marsh waged a lone battle for KXIP as his 84-run knock went in vain.
Earlier, Warner and Dhawan batted with swagger to put up a match-winning opening partnership of 107 runs which provided a launch pad to the visitors. Warner made 51 off 27 balls and his form rubbed off to Dhawan with the Indian hammering 77 runs, his highest knock this season.
With this fifty, Warner also became the first Sunrisers Hyderabad batsman to complete 25 fifties in IPL. He is currently tied with Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir on fifties in IPL, with both batsmen having made 35. Kane Willamson also joined the party and smashed an unbeaten, 27-ball 54 towards the end to propel his team past the 200-run mark. After Warner was bowled by Maxwell, Dhawan took up the scoring Williamson. The duo added 40 runs. Dhawan’s 77 came off 48 balls. When Yuvraj Singh walked in, he was given a big cheer. But he
failed.