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Apart from team selection, some of Punjab’s captaincy choices too appeared unconvincing. SRH, on the other hand, finally managed to chase down a total in their fourth attempt, opening their account with a thumping nine-wicket victory.
Khaleel Ahmed’s superb bowling spell stood out as SRH bowled out PBKS for a belowpar 120 runs in Chennai. Khaleel (3/21), who is replacing an injured Thangarasu Natrajan, executed his cutters to perfection on the low and slow Chepauk track.
Left-arm spinner Abhishek Sharma (2/24) took two wickets. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/16), Rashid Khan (1/17), and Siddarth Kaul (1/27) picked a wicket each to bowl out Punjab in 19.4 overs.
Chasing 121 for a win, Jonny Bairstow scored a cautious 56-ball 63 to give SRH a steady start, while David Warner managed a 37 off 37 balls.
The duo put on 50 runs in the Powerplay. Once the field restrictions were up, PBKS spinners Murugan Ashwin and Deepak Hooda kept the run flow in check. The pressure finally worked as Fabien Allen ended the 73-run opening stand by removing Warner.
A happy skipper 🧡 #OrangeOrNothing #OrangeArmy #IPL2021 #PBKSvSRH @davidwarner31 https://t.co/EmO7dymmpx
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) 1619021720000
Kane Williamson then ensured that SRH would stay on course. Williamson and Bairstow added 48 runs for the second wicket and helped SRH reach the target in 18.4 overs.
Rahul’s decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired for Punjab as both the skipper and Mayank Agarwal got out cheaply. Bhuvneshwar
Kumar, who bagged Rahul early, soon walked out with a thigh strain.
With Natrajan still nursing a niggle on his left knee, it is big blow for Hyderabad.
Scores: SRH 121/1 (Bairstow 63*) beat PBKS 120 (Shahrukh 22, Khaleel 3-21) by nine wickets
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