IPL 2019: Match 22, KXIP vs SRH – The reward for the Sunrisers Hyderabad's risk

From losing all four matches in Mohali until 2017 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, the Kings XI Punjab have defeated twice in two matches at this venue. The home team came up with plans against the SRH opening pair of Jonny Bairstow and David Warner. The duo has been the heart of SRH’s batting in this tournament. Bairstow was dismissed early on while Warner remained unbeaten on 70 despite facing 62 deliveries. They finished with 150/4 in their 20 overs with at least 15-20 runs short of a winning score.

The lowest totals that were successfully defended in the IPL in Mohali was exactly 150 by the Sunrisers during the 2013 and 2015 season matches against the hosts. Sunrisers must have had their Déjà vu moment by finishing with exactly 150 once again here in Mohali. With the big boundaries around, they needed to dismiss the Kings XI Punjab opener Chris Gayle early on and put the remaining lot under pressure.

The risk Sunrisers took

Gayle has had his share of struggles against Sandeep Sharma in the IPL. He scored 58 from 54 balls at cost of four dismissals in the IPL against Sandeep before this game. However, Gayle is well known for negotiating his possible threats and targets the weaker bowlers or the ones who bowl in his zone. In the games against Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians, he did the same before getting out. Well aware of Gayle’s batting style, the SRH skipper Bhuvneshwar Kumar brought Rashid Khan for the 4th over.

The risk behind this move is Gayle’s past success against the leg-spinner. He scored 43 off 18 balls without getting out against Rashid in the previous season including 42 from 16 balls in the game hosted by Mohali. The Caribbean batsman hit 6 sixes including four in a row during his unbeaten century. Rashid was brought into the attack as late as 8th over in four out of the first five matches of this season. He also bowled the 4th over against Rajasthan Royals and cleaned up Jos Buttler on the 2nd ball.

The reward which SRH couldn’t convert into a win:

Chris Gayle decided to take on Rashid Khan straight away and hit the first ball of the leg-spinner in the game down the ground. There was no elevation and the ball went close to the long-on fielder. Deepak Hooda, who was positioned for such a shot, completed an excellent catch to help SRH to take the first wicket. However, SRH’s reward for the risk couldn’t be converted into a victory as the Kings XI sneaked a 6-wicket victory.

KL Rahul anchored the chase with an unbeaten 53-ball 71 while Mayank Agarwal’s 43-ball 55 helped them to milk runs during the middle overs which they failed during the game against CSK. Mohammad Nabi, who had an economy rate under four from the first three matches of the season, ended up conceding 42 runs in 3.5 overs including 11 in the final over. Attacking Nabi was one of the reasons why KXIP kept themselves ahead of the required rate until the 18th over.

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