IPL 2021: Match 37, SRH vs PBKS – Who Said What

Punjab Kings closed a game correctly. Sharjah witnessed a low-scoring thriller, with only seven sixes hit in the entire game. Sunrisers Hyderabad’s five-year playoff qualification streak officially came to an end, as they stand ruled out of the race in 2021. That might be a little too much info to process, but all that is what happened in a single game.

In both the teams’ defence, the track was nowhere even close to a regular Sharjah belter, with the ball stopping, gripping and keeping low on the odd occasion. Batting first, Punjab Kings encountered all of it within few moments, as Jason Holder removed both openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal cheaply. After sitting out in the previous game, Chris Gayle had little business on what’s usually termed a bowler’s graveyard, as he got a 17-ball 14.

Punjab’s innings was one that never got going, with none of their batters who lasted 10 balls or more striking above even 130. That they were not bundled out even before their quota of 20 overs was thanks to some lower-order contributions from Harpreet Brar and Nathan Ellis after Aiden Markram’s departure for 27 off 32.

With that kind of a batting show, it was no surprise that all Punjab could manage was 125/7. Although, Punjab’s bowlers had enough in them to defend it. Continuing his dreadful run of form, David Warner perished for just 2 to Mohammed Shami, who struck in his immediately next over to send Kane Williamson for 1. Manish Pandey laboured along to 13 off 23, while none amongst Kedar Jadhav or Abdul Samad could do anything to keep their team in the hunt for a low score.

Wriddhiman Saha did hold his end up, scoring 31 off 37 but the hopes for a Hyderabad win were kept alive by Jason Holder, who, after bagging 3/19 with the ball, smashed five sixes in his unbeaten knock of 47 off 29. For Punjab, Ravi Bishnoi bagged 3/22, Shami 2/14,  Arshdeep 1/22 and while Nathan Ellis returned wicketless, he did well to defend 17 off the last over against an on-song Holder, to secure a five-run win for his side. So significant was Holder’s performance, he ended up winning the Player of the Match award despite being on the losing side.

Losing skipper Kane Williamson:

The bowling unit, fielding unit did a fantastic job. Certainly the surface was a tough one. Required partnerships and we were certainly backing ourselves to get close. It took a brilliant individual performance in both halves from Jason Holder, especially with the bat to keep the match competitive. It’s (SRH) a proud franchise, frustrating season. We do need to look for areas to improve. We try to learn from the first half of the game. Punjab tried to come out attacking like it usually happens in T20s. But playing shots was challenging. For us it was about looking to build platforms. It was quite a challenge to pounce on them without losing wickets.The games come thick and fast. We need to come to the next game with fresh eyes and freedom. We will try and put in the best. Smart cricket needs to be played with different surfaces.

Winning skipper KL Rahul:

 I hope so, we are playing some entertaining cricket and have been doing for the last two or three years, but I’ll take the win. He (Holder) played exceedingly well. First with the ball, taking those two wickets in an over and then batted really well, on a track where it was difficult to play the big shots. We wanted to get another 20-30 more runs but we’ll take the win. It gives us a belief that no matter what the situation is, our bowlers can get the opposition out if we get a decent score. Shami to start of, bowled really well, getting two big batters in Warner and Williamson. Made it easier for our spinners to settle into a nice line and length. Lesson for the batsmen would be to realise that it’s not a 160-170 surface, if we had built a few partnerships, we could have got to 140-150. He (Harpreet) has been good for us, he can do everything. Has finished some games for us, also gives us control with the ball and great in the field. Everytime I go to him, he tells me ‘Paaji (Brother) don’t worry, I won’t leak runs’. That’s his attitude.

Player of the Match Jason Holder: 

Tough loss. At the halfway mark, needing 126, you obviously back yourselves to chase it. We probably left a little too much to get at the end although I did back myself to get those. The stage where I came in, I just had to go for it and it worked. Maybe that’s why it worked. Batters probably weren’t too committal earlier on. Five more games left, need to build some momentum for next season. Fans have been really passionate, we need to keep going for them.