Hyderabad need batting support

HEAD TO HEAD

Defending a sub-120 total in T20 cricket is no small task. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) achieved the rare feat in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 when they dismissed Mumbai Indians for mere 87 in an away game on Tuesday.

It was only the fourth time in IPL that a team defended a less than run-a-ball total. While it speaks volumes of the bowling depth of Sunrisers Hyderabad, the excitement surrounding the achievement fails to hide the former champions’ one weak link – their batting. Against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) on Thursday, the Kane Williamson-led side’s ailing batting line-up may again be prodded with some tough questions. The last time the two teams faced, Chris Gayle thundered with a 63-ball 104 as SRH failed to chase a 194-run target.

In their six matches so far, SRH have chased on five occasions. Sunrisers Hyderabad Total matches Kings XI Punjab

HYDERABAD:

They won three of those games with the target below 150. On the two occasions the target was above 150, Hyderabad lost.

So the onus is on SRH batsmen to finally start complementing their bowlers’ good work. Captain Williamson has been the lone consistent performer with the bat for SRH, with three half-centuries so far. The KXIP side however is loaded with big-hitters from Gayle to KL Rahul to Aaron Finch. Though Gayle missed their previous engagement against Delhi Daredevils with a sore muscle, even then KXIP’s batting looks solid.