Sunrisers Hyderabad look to teenager for IPL final flourish
MUMBAI: Sunrisers Hyderabad are banking on Afghan sensation Rashid Khan to fire one more time against the Chennai Super Kings in today’s Indian Premier League final.
After a string of brilliant performances in India’s cash-rich Twenty20 league, the 19-year-old will be in the spotlight as the Sunrisers seek a second title — and a US$4-million (RM15.9 million) prize — against Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s Super Kings.
Rashid’s spin bowling has made him one of the hottest properties in cricket over the past year. But he has shown in the IPL this year that he can bat too.
His 10-ball 34 and three crucial wickets set up the Sunrisers’ semi-final win over the Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday.
New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, a last-minute replacement for scandal-tainted David Warner as the Sunrisers’ captain, said Rashid would be vital in the final.
“He was brilliant but he’s got another game, so we’re going to keep him... under wraps,” Williamson said after Friday’s win in Kolkata.
“He’s had a great season for us. Now it is important we move on and focus on the final.”
Rashid, who was bought by the Sunrisers for US$1.32 million at the January auction, has proved his worth by claiming 21 wickets in 16 matches and with vital tailend batting contributions.
“I wouldn’t hesitate in saying he is the best spinner in the world in this format... (and) he’s got some batting skills as well,” Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar wrote on Twitter.
And Australian spin great Shane Warne praised the teenager’s ability to play well under pressure in tense Indian stadiums.
Rashid and the Sunrisers will now face a side who have beaten them three times in this year’s competition.
Two-time champions Super Kings, who with the Rajasthan Royals returned this season after a two-year corruption ban, have won 10 of their 15 games.
Veterans Dhoni, Dwayne Bravo and Faf du Plessis have rallied Chennai in crunch games to give them a shot at their third title — a feat only achieved by the Mumbai Indians.
“It’s nice we have so many experienced players to rely on. Chennai’s been to seven, eight finals, so we have the experience of big games,” du Plessis said after his unbeaten 67 helped the Super Kings beat the Sunrisers in the first knockout match.
“M.S. (Dhoni) understands what to ask of the players. We’re playing our best cricket at the moment.”
IPL organisers are predicting a television audience of several hundred million for at least part of final, which will be played in Mumbai.
• LONDON: England were 37 for two in their second innings, a deficit of 142 runs, at lunch on the third day of the First Test against Pakistan at Lord’s yesterday.
Joe Root, the England captain, was 22 not out and Dawid Malan unbeaten on nought.
England lost both their lefthanded openers before lunch after conceding a large first-innings deficit of 179 runs.
They suffered a huge setback when Alastair Cook was lbw to Mohammad Abbas for just one.
And shortly before lunch, Mark Stoneman was lbw for nine to teenage leg-spinner Shadab Khan.
Earlier, Pakistan were dismissed for 363 in their first innings after resuming on 350 for eight.