IPL 9 Match 46 Review: Yuvraj blitz takes SRH in to the playoffs

Yuvraj Singh 44 from 22 balls played a tense knock to enable Sunrisers Hyderabad defeat Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) with 7 wickets in hand. Chasing 184 runs to qualify for the playoff, SRH got off to a steady start before the KXIP pulled back the game in their favour. However, Yuvraj took over the proceeding and played an entertaining knock to help the home side sail into the playoffs. Unfortunately, for the KXIP side, this loss means the end of the road for them in the tournament.

After opting to bat first, the KXIP side posted a formidable 179/4 with the help of Hashim Amla’s 56-ball 96 runs knock. Amla and Murali Vijay gave a short but stable start before the latter departed in the 5th over of the match. Wriddhiman Saha (27 from 23 balls) and Gurkeerat Singh Maan (27 from 20 balls) then hung around with Amla and stitched two vital half-century stands which took KXIP to a comfortable position in the match.

Saha walked in one down and batted with responsibility, keeping the run rate healthy as well. Both carried on till the half-way stage of the game before Saha lost his wicket just after Amla reached his maiden IPL fifty.

Gurkeerat Maan then came in and helped the run rate surge. The well set Amla had also by then switched gears. Both took the run rate over 8.50 an over by the time the innings was approaching the death overs. However, Bhuvneshwar Kumar interfered at the right time as Maan was dismissed at a crucial time in the 18th over. The final touches to the innings were given by David Miller’s crunchy hits in the last over. Unfortunately, luck didn’t back Amla as he missed out on a well-deserved hundred.

The chase began on a fantastic note for the Sunrisers as their skipper David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan yet again gave a sizzling start, putting on a 68 runs stand before Dhawan departed in the 8th over. But, the skipper continued with his stroke making and went on to register yet another fifty. But, unluckily, just when it seemed that the Warner would help SRH cruise along to yet another win, he lost his wicket after he disturbed the stumps with his foot. This was a lucky breakthrough for the defending team KXIP. A turnaround was anticipated. But, nothing went as per Punjab’s expectations as the SRH side did not lose track in the chase. Deepak Hooda (34 from 22 balls) landed some hefty blows with his power hitting to take SRH close to the target. But, Sandeep Sharma kept KXIP in the game after he snapped Hooda in the 16th over.

The chase had now become tense with the Kings having a slight upper hand over the chasing side. The required run rate was hovering at 10 an over. But, Yuvi then unfurled his range of strokes and cracked a wonderful knock, taking the match to the last over. At the time of Hooda’s departure, SRH required 41 from the last four overs. But the equation was brought down to just 9 off the last over which Mohit Sharma was supposed to bowl. Yuvraj faced no trouble in getting those runs and along with Ben Cutting and finished the match with two balls to spare.

Brief Score:

Kings XI Punjab: 179/4 in 20 overs

Sunrisers Hyderabad: 180/3 in 19.4 overs

Man of the Match: Hashim Amla