Warner’s whirlwind 126 helps Sunrisers floor Knight Riders

Swashbuckling opener David Warner smashed a whirlwind century to guide Sunrisers Hyderabad to a comfortable 48-run win over table-toppers Kolkata Knight Riders in their IPL encounter, here today. (SRH v KKR

Warner butchered the KKR bowlers with a 59-ball 126-run innings, studded with 10 fours and 8 sixes to power defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad to an imposing 209-3 after captain Gautam Gambhir decided to bowl.

Chasing the target, KKR were reduced to 12-2 in 2.3 overs with both their openers -- Gambhir (11) and Sunil Narine (1) back to the pavillion.

Robin Uthappa (53) and Manish Pandey (39) then shared a 78-run partnership off 51 balls for the 3rd wicket to keep KKR in the hunt.

After their dismissal, Yusuf Pathan (12), Sheldon Jackson (16) and Colin de Grandhomme (18) tried their hands but it was not enough in the end as KKR were restricted to 161-7 in stipulated 20 overs.

For Sunrisers, Mohammed Siraj (2/26), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/29) and Siddharth Kaul (2/26) took two wickets each, while Rashid Khan (1/38) also contributed with one wicket.

There was also a rain-interruption of 42 minutes when KKR were 52-2 in 7 overs with Uthappa and Pandey at the crease but it didn’t affect the match as no overs were lost.

This was Sunrisers’ sixth win in 10 matches. They now have 13 points and are placed at the third spot in the table. For two-time champions and table-toppers KKR, it is only their third loss in 10 matches.

With this win, Sunrisers also avenged their 17-run loss to KKR in their previous outing.