In yet another exciting contest of IPL-11, Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated the Kings XI Punjab by 13 runs at their home ground. The Kings XI Punjab bowlers rattled the SRH batting for just 132 runs. However, SRH showed that their victory against the Mumbai Indians was not a luck by chance kind of a performance but a testimony of their strong bowling attack. In another counter attack led by the SRH bowlers, KXIP could only manage 119 before getting all out in the final over.
SRH, at their home turf, batted first and despite batting for full quota of 20 overs could only score 132 runs for 6 wickets amidst some missed catches, overthrows and an ordinary fielding performance from the Punjab side. Manish Pandey (54) was the top scorer for SRH and although it wasn’t one of his fluent innings, it gave some kind of structure to Hyderabad’s batting. Shakib Al Hasan (28) and Yusuf Pathan (21*) also chipped in with useful contributions.
Ankit Rajput was the pick of the bowlers for Kings XI Punjab and looked absolutely lethal upfront with the new ball. With the new ball Rajput picked up 3 wickets in a 3 over spell and then returned to bowl the final over of the innings, picking up 2 wickets, displaying his death bowling skills as well. Ankit returned with figures of 5/14 in 4 overs.
Chasing a modest target of 133, KL Rahul and Chris Gayle started on the right note, with a half century stand without taking too many risks. However, once the duo departed in quick succession, Hyderabad bowlers did not allow Punjab to score easily and the pressure resulted in wickets. In a bowling attack studded with bowlers like Rashid Khan (3/19), Shakib Al Hasan (2/18), Sandeep Sharma (2/17), Basil Thampi (2/14), Punjab failed to keep the scoreboard ticking or develop partnerships when they needed the most.
Punjab was all out for 119 runs in 19.2 overs and lost the match by 13 runs. This was SRH’s 5th win in 7 matches and Punjab’s second defeat in as many games. Ankit Rajput, despite producing best ever figures from an uncapped Indian player, ended up on the losing side. Rajput was adjudged the player of the match for his wonderful performance.
