In the battle of the two teams that have shocked all by being in the top four the match showed why they are on the top. First Sunrisers electing to bat first recovered from a start that threatened three-digit score for them to reach a respectable 144 runs that had enough for their bowling to defend considering they have been defending 130-odd runs score. But Rajasthan Royals Captain Dravid and Shane Watson did not let their bowling succeed and they won by 8 wickets with 2 overs remaining.
Match Facts
- RR won by 8 wickets
MOM: James Faulkner
Final Score: 144/9 (SH), 146/2 (RR)
6 overs: 29/5 (SH), 31/1 (RR)
10 overs 64/6 (SH), 76/2 (RR)
50 runs: 8.2 ov (SH), 10 ov (RR)
100 runs: 16.1 ov (SH), 14.5 ov (RR)
6s/4s: 2/16 (SH), 17/5 (RR)
Best Bowling: 15/1 Steyn (SH), 5/20 Faulkner (RR)
Best Batting: 60 Sammy (SH), 98* Watson, 36 Dravid (RR)
Sunrisers Hyderabad Innings
Replacing Cameron White, Sangakkara electing to bat first and were shaken by the irresponsible shots of their top 7 batsmen who gifted their wickets to some decent bowling of Chandila and Faulkner. With Vihari going to Cooper, Sunrisers were 6/29 in 6.1 overs. Ashrath Reddy (2) went in first over of Chandila. Faulkner bowled the second over and had Sangakkara (4) and Dhawan (0) back to dug out. In his second over he got Karan Sharma (6 runs) also. Cahndila got Perera (4 runs) in 5th over of the match, and Cooper got Vihari (4 runs).
Sammy playing his second game of the season then took the attack back to Rajasthan Royals in the company of Amit Mishra as they added 58 runs in 8 overs. Mishra (28-ball 21 runs with 2 boundaries) became Faulkner’s 4th victim. Ashish Reddy (11-ball 14 runs) added 27 runs for 8th wicket before being Binny’s first wicket of the tournament. Steyn joined Sammy (41-ball 60 runs, 8 boundaries, 1 six) who fought heat with wet towel around the nexk and was the 9th wicket to go on the last ball of the 19th over bowled by Faulkner, who got the Purple Cap as well as the 10th best bowling figures of overall IPL taking wicket in every over. Steyn (8-ball 18 runs) then showed his batting class taking 17 runs in the last over bowled by Cooper with 2 boundaries and a six. He remained unbeaten with Ishant who did not face a ball. taking Sunrisers Hyderabad to a fighting total.
For Rajasthan Royals, Faulkner (20/5) and Chandila (13/2 in 3 overs) were successful. Others were expensive as Cooper (142), Binny (25/1) Watson (16/0 in 2 overs) and Trivedi (26/0 in 3 overs) went for runs.
Rajasthan Royals Chase of 145 runs
On a pitch where average score is 149 runs and Royals has won all their matches, 145 runs was not a tough target. But Sunrisers Hyderabad had shown they have one of the best bowling attack for all type of pitches. Dravid decided to open with Rahane to diffuse initial few lethal overs full of pace by Steyn and Ishant. But Rahane 1 run, 9 balls) was not successful in trying to whack Steyn who had a wicket-maiden in third over. After having been tied for first 6 overs Rajasthan Royals had their worst performance with score reading 1/31. But with Watson and Dravid playing the chase appeared within reach and soon both changed gear. And by the time in 13th over Dravid (35-ball 36 runs, 4 4s and a six) was caught on the boundary they had added 74 runs getting the required run rate within reach. Stuart Binny joined Watson who had now started talking in sixes. 14th over bowled by Ishant Sharma went for 20 runs with 3 boundaries and a six and Watson completed his second consecutive 50-plus score.
RR now needed only 36 runs in 5 overs with 8 wickets at hand. And they needed only 3 more overs to complete that. Watson (54 balls, 98 Runs, 13 4s, 4 6s) and Binny (10 balls, 9 runs, one 4) took them home with an unbeaten 65 run partnership.
For Sunrisers Steyn (15/1) as expected was the most successful. Ishant (35/0 in 3 overs) leaked runs for the second consecutive game, although Jaipur supported pacers. Sammy (17/0 in 3 overs) fought well despite being probably dehydrated and limping. Perera (34/1) could not take help from pitch. Amith Mishra (20/0 in 2 overs) and Karan Sharma (20/0 in 1.4 overs) failed to leave any mark.
Leave a Reply