Twitter Reactions: David 'The Goliath' Warner punishes MI bowlers to take SRH to playoffs in a grandiose manner

It was a spectacular performance by the Orange Army in all the facets of the game.

By Pratyay Tiwari

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4 Min Read

Wriddhiman Saha and David Warner
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Wriddhiman Saha and David Warner. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

It was a game between two, but it kept three teams on the edge of their seats. Such is the thrill of the Indian Premier League (IPL) that despite 55 matches and enthralling action, the final and the best four were not finalized. Little did we know a month and a half ago that it will come down to the wire, quite literally, to get the playoff contenders. The match for the top-placed Mumbai Indians (MI) was a dead-rubber, plain and simple. However, for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, their future relied on this one.

MI’s under par show

For the MI fanatics, the sight of Rohit Sharma stepping out at the toss must have been the second-best sight. First, of course, being their team’s performance this year. Although, he was not able to make his bat talk after David Warner invited MI to bat upon winning the toss. Looking to play one over the head of mid-off, Rohit chipped it straight to Warner off Sandeep Sharma, who, once again, managed to strike in the powerplay for his team. The track at Sharjah has been two-paced of late.

Utilizing the advantage to his benefit, Sharma ensured to vary his pace well. A wide and slow full toss is all it took Sharma to clean up Quinton de Kock (25 from 13). Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan continued to play the waiting game as Rashid Khan tied them up from one end. Adding 42 for the third wicket, the partnership was broken in the 11th over, when Yadav, in an attempt to punch one from Shahbaz Nadeem, dragged his foot outside, only to see Wriddhiman Saha whip the bails off in a flash.

MI, from 81/2 was reduced to 82/5 in no time as Nadeem’s slower one entrapped Krunal, who lobbed it straight to Williamson at short midwicket, whereas Rashid Khan, in the next over, foxed Saurabh Tiwary on his wrong’un, and his edge was grabbed by Saha. A late dash from Kieron Pollard – who slammed four sixes and a couple of boundaries during his 41-run blinder – took MI to a decent 149.

SRH in cruise mode

In what turned out to be a rather easy and dominating chase, David Warner and Wriddhiman Saha aced with ease. After a watchful start, the duo launched a flurry of breath-taking strokes and made the MI’s bowling unit searching for answers. They added 56 in the powerplay but did not get cautious, unlike the past. Maintaining the tempo well, both the batsmen took their partnership to 88 in 10 overs, thereby bringing the required run rate below 6.

Both the strikers played sensibly, ensured to rotate the strike, did not miss the loose balls, and kept slamming boundaries at regular intervals. None of the bowlers were able to trouble either of them and, banking on their exceptional start, SRH went on to thrash MI by 10 wickets.

It was a spectacular performance by the Orange Army in all the facets of the game. The win has cemented their much-deserved spot in the slot of top-four, and they will meet Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Eliminator.

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IPL 2024Sunrisers HyderabadMumbai IndiansEngland