IPL 10: Gameplan was to ensure one guy bats all the way through, says David Warner

The Sunrisers registered their 6th win of the season when they beat the table toppers Kolkata Knight Riders at Hyderabad recently. The win marked their 5th win at the venue in as many appearances this season. A lot of credit has to go to the SRH skipper David Warner for playing a flamboyant knock that set up the SRH win on the day. Warner clobbered 126 runs in just 59 deliveries to help SRH post 209 runs on the board.

Warner added a marathon 139 run stand with Shikhar Dhawan at the top order to set the firm base in the match. David Warner took the opposition bowlers to the cleaners in the match by reaching his fifty in just 20 deliveries at the beginning of the fifth over. He helped SRH score as many as 79 runs in the powerplay. It was only a matter of time that Warner completed his ton in only 43 deliveries.

Talking at the post-match press conference, David Warner spoke at length about the team plans on the day. As per the quotes in Cricbuzz, he quoted that the plan was to maximize the run flow in the powerplay. Moreover, he cited that knowing the venue very well, they know batting first is always a better option at the venue unless it is a day game.

“We know this wicket here. I generally try and bat first here because we know if you get 170-plus on the board, you go a long way in winning the game. Unless it is a day game, where you try and chase. Game plan in the first six is always to be positive, try and minimise damage – one or maximum two wickets lost – and try to get 40 to 50 runs in the powerplay. Anything more is a bonus,” he quoted.

He further pointed out that the ground dimensions are not easy. Hence, the region where the boundaries are farther, it is important to take doubles there. Attacking shorter boundaries is the other thing to be kept in mind. Lastly, he conceded that the team wanted one of the batters to stay till the very end.

“On this ground, one side of the wicket is generally quite big, so you know you can shut the scoring down quite easily from the bowling point of view, but as a batter you’ve got to make the most of that and run twos, and run hard. Our gameplan was to get ahead of the game and keep going and make sure one guy bats all the way through,” conceded the SRH skipper.