IPL 8, RR vs SRH: Exciting thriller comes to an end, SRH emerge victorious, beat RR by 7 runs
7 May 2015 3:48 PM GMT
Eoin Morgan (63 off 28) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar's 3 wickets starred for SRH
Rajasthan Royals skipper won the toss and elected to field against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Mumbai on Thursday. (Photo: BCCI)
Mumbai: An all-Indian pace attack and an all-overseas batting lineup with the exception of Shikhar Dhawan did just enough to guide Sunrisers Hyderabad to a crucial seven-run win over Rajasthan Royals here at the Brabourne Stadium on Thursday. Powered by Eoin Morgan’s 28-ball 63 and Shikhar Dhawan’s half-century Sunrisers posted a mammoth 201/4, their highest total this season.
A spirited chase by Rajasthan had raised serious doubts over Sunrisers’ decision to bench senior fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Trent Boult, but a fine last over by Bhuvneshwar Kumar meant the big gamble had eventually paid off. The defeat means the Royals will now need to win at least one of their remaining two matches to qualify for playoffs.
The Royals were under pressure when Orange Cap holder Ajinkya Rahane was back in the first over bowled by Bhuvneshwar. It was Rahane, who slammed Bhuvneshwar for two fours, but the wily swing bowler changed his length smartly to have Rahane caught behind off his last ball.
Making his return after a gap of eight games, Ishant Sharma removed captain Shane Watson in his first over as the Royals were reduced to 30/2. Karun Nair and Deepak Hooda failed to cross double digits.
Ajinkya Rahane's super effort #RRvsSRH #IPL @rajasthanroyals https://t.co/4ekcfZiC5o
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 7, 2015
It was with this backdrop that Steven Smith played a terrific counterattacking knock of 68 from 40 balls before he was cleaned up by Ravi Bopara in the 15th over. James Faulkner (30 from 19) and Sanju Samson (21 from 10) carried on as the Royals were left to chase 40 in two overs. Chris Morris then struck three sixes in a row in the 19th over bowled by Praveen Kumar that fetched 22 runs. With 18 to get in six, the reliable Bhuvneshwar bowled a tight over, restricting Royals to 194/7.
Earlier, Sunrisers, who got their finger burnt hoping Indian middle-order batsmen would fire, wisely went back to the batting order which had helped them to their previous best score of 192 against CSK. The move to send Moises Henriques and Eoin Morgan worked perfectly as the visitors smashed 113 in last 10 overs after the openers set the tempo.
The home team opting to bowl under extreme heat conditions felt the heat as visitors attacked from the start, hitting rookie Deepak Hooda for three boundaries in the first over.
Dhaval Kulkarni was greeted by Dhawan with three boundaries in his first over too. After conceding just five in his first over, Morris felt the pressure as well and gave away 12 in his second over as the Sunrisers raced to 40 in just four overs. The onslaught forced Royals captain to introduce himself into the attack.
SCOREBOARD
Sunrisers Hyderabad: S. Dhawan b Faulkner 54, D. Warner c Samson b Watson 24, M. Henriques b Tambe 20, E. Morgan c Smith b Watson 63, R. Bopara (not out) 17, N. Ojha (not out) 8. Extras (lb 5, w 10) 15. Total (for four wickets in 20 overs) 201.
FoW: 1-48, 2-89, 3-127, 4-180.
Bowling: Hooda 3-0-34-0, Morris 4-0-38-0, Kulkarni 2-0-19-0, Watson 3-0-36-2, Faulkner 4-0-37-1, Tambe 4-0-32-1.
Rajasthan Royals: A. Rahane c Ojha b B. Kumar 8, S. Watson c P. Kumar b I. Sharma 12, S. Smith b Bopara 68, K. Nair c Ojha b Henriques 4, D. Hooda c B. Kumar b K. Sharma 7, J. Faulkner c Bopara b B. Kumar 30, S. Samson b B. Kumar 21, S. Binny (not out) 3, C. Morris (not out) 34. Extras (lb 6, w 1) 7. Total (for seven wickets in 20 overs) 194.
FoW: 1-8, 2-30, 3-45, 4-77, 5-121, 6-145, 7-157.
Bowling: B. Kumar 4-0-44-3, P. Kumar 4-0-40-0, I. Sharma 3-0-25-1, K. Sharma 3-0-28-1, Henriques 3-0-29-1, Bopara 3-0-22-1.
( Source : dc )
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