Chasing 172, Mumbai Indians managed to score 157 for the loss of seven wickets in the allotted 20 overs with Kieron Pollard topscoring with 78 off 48 balls with three fours and six sixes.
Earlier, David Warner hit a fighting half-century and combined well with Lokesh Rahul (46) for a superb 111-run partnership as Hyderabad scored a competitive 172 for five.Warner worked hard for runs initially but once he got his eye in and was settled, the Australian left-hander scored runs at a brisk pace. He hit more sixes (4) than fours (1) in his 51-ball knock before departing towards the end of the SRH innings. Rahul also contributed in Hyderabad’s decent total by supporting Warner well in their third-wicket stand, following cheap dismissal of their openers.
Veteran paceman Zaheer Khan (2/26) bowled with good rhythm and succeeded in sending Shikhar Dhawan (6) and Aaron Finch (16) back to dugout inside the first five overs. The SRH skipper edged one to Harbhajan Singh in slips immediately after hitting a boundary while Finch, who yet again looked in good touch, failed to keep a drive on the ground and was caught in covers by Ben Dunk.
Lasith Malinga and Harbhajan Singh also bowled well and at the same time SRH batsmen did not lack in application and were maintaining a decent run-rate. Prgyan Ojha was the only Mumbai bowler who failed to make an impact. He was hit for consecutive boundaries by Rahiul and was also punished by Warner, who smashed the spinner to a huge six over the mid-wicket. In his first two overs, the left-arm spinner leaked 25 runs, allowing SRH to overcome the early loss of the openers. At half-way mark, SRH were 71 for two, albeit there were not much boundaries, only six at that stage.
Warner and Rahul had to work hard for runs. They relied on rotating the strike, rather then going for big shots. In fact, at one time, the gap between two boundaries was almost six overs. The shackles were broken when Ojha returned. He first fired his second wide for five runs and then Warner again hammered him for a massive six.
Warner did not spare Pollard and even umpire Kumar Dharamasena, who was hit on his shoulders by one of his furious shots.
Watson as cool and calm as Dravid: Ajinkya Rahane
Abu Dhabi: Ajinkya Rahane rose to prominence while playing under Rahul Dravid in Rajasthan Royals and the right-handed batsman feels current skipper Shane Watson is as ‘cool and calm headed’ as his predecessor.
‘He (Watson) has been wonderful. In so many ways he is very similar to Rahul bhai as captain. Like him, Shane too is very calm in the middle and makes his decisions with a cool head,’ Rahane said after playing a key role in Rajasthan’s thrilling Super Over win against Kolkata Knight Riders on Tuesday.
‘They both have the ability to hold their nerves in pressure situations and take their own time in making the right decisions.’ Rahane smashed 72 off 59 balls to help Rajasthan post 152 for five on the board before their bowlers kept their calm at the death to restrict KKR to 152 for eight in 20 overs, thereby taking the match to Super Over.
In the Super Over, KKR batting first scored 11 off James Faulkner with Manish Pandey getting a six. In reply, Steven Smith showed his cricketing acumen with a soft tap off the last delivery from Sunil Narine towards extra cover to get two runs that sealed the match in their favour. But had it not been for James Faulkner’s splendid penultimate over, Rajasthan could have ended on the other side of the coin.
‘Birthday boy’ Faulkner (3/11 in 2 overs) picked up the wickets of Suryakumar Yadav (31), Robin Uthappa (0) and R Vinay Kumar (0) in the 19th over with KKR just needing 16 off the last two. ‘What a game! Absolutely nail-biting. I am elated with the team’s performance. Everybody held their nerve in tense conditions. The credit goes to the bowlers for the way they pulled the game in our favour in the end overs,’ Rahane was quoted as saying by IPL’s official website.
‘I am very happy for all the bowlers, particularly James Faulkner. He actually brought us back in the game with that three-wicket over. He absolutely deserves his Man of the Match award, which is a great birthday present for him,’ Rahane added.
Earlier, David Warner hit a fighting half-century and combined well with Lokesh Rahul (46) for a superb 111-run partnership as Hyderabad scored a competitive 172 for five.Warner worked hard for runs initially but once he got his eye in and was settled, the Australian left-hander scored runs at a brisk pace. He hit more sixes (4) than fours (1) in his 51-ball knock before departing towards the end of the SRH innings. Rahul also contributed in Hyderabad’s decent total by supporting Warner well in their third-wicket stand, following cheap dismissal of their openers.
Veteran paceman Zaheer Khan (2/26) bowled with good rhythm and succeeded in sending Shikhar Dhawan (6) and Aaron Finch (16) back to dugout inside the first five overs. The SRH skipper edged one to Harbhajan Singh in slips immediately after hitting a boundary while Finch, who yet again looked in good touch, failed to keep a drive on the ground and was caught in covers by Ben Dunk.
Lasith Malinga and Harbhajan Singh also bowled well and at the same time SRH batsmen did not lack in application and were maintaining a decent run-rate. Prgyan Ojha was the only Mumbai bowler who failed to make an impact. He was hit for consecutive boundaries by Rahiul and was also punished by Warner, who smashed the spinner to a huge six over the mid-wicket. In his first two overs, the left-arm spinner leaked 25 runs, allowing SRH to overcome the early loss of the openers. At half-way mark, SRH were 71 for two, albeit there were not much boundaries, only six at that stage.
Warner and Rahul had to work hard for runs. They relied on rotating the strike, rather then going for big shots. In fact, at one time, the gap between two boundaries was almost six overs. The shackles were broken when Ojha returned. He first fired his second wide for five runs and then Warner again hammered him for a massive six.
Warner did not spare Pollard and even umpire Kumar Dharamasena, who was hit on his shoulders by one of his furious shots.
Watson as cool and calm as Dravid: Ajinkya Rahane
Abu Dhabi: Ajinkya Rahane rose to prominence while playing under Rahul Dravid in Rajasthan Royals and the right-handed batsman feels current skipper Shane Watson is as ‘cool and calm headed’ as his predecessor.
‘He (Watson) has been wonderful. In so many ways he is very similar to Rahul bhai as captain. Like him, Shane too is very calm in the middle and makes his decisions with a cool head,’ Rahane said after playing a key role in Rajasthan’s thrilling Super Over win against Kolkata Knight Riders on Tuesday.
‘They both have the ability to hold their nerves in pressure situations and take their own time in making the right decisions.’ Rahane smashed 72 off 59 balls to help Rajasthan post 152 for five on the board before their bowlers kept their calm at the death to restrict KKR to 152 for eight in 20 overs, thereby taking the match to Super Over.
In the Super Over, KKR batting first scored 11 off James Faulkner with Manish Pandey getting a six. In reply, Steven Smith showed his cricketing acumen with a soft tap off the last delivery from Sunil Narine towards extra cover to get two runs that sealed the match in their favour. But had it not been for James Faulkner’s splendid penultimate over, Rajasthan could have ended on the other side of the coin.
‘Birthday boy’ Faulkner (3/11 in 2 overs) picked up the wickets of Suryakumar Yadav (31), Robin Uthappa (0) and R Vinay Kumar (0) in the 19th over with KKR just needing 16 off the last two. ‘What a game! Absolutely nail-biting. I am elated with the team’s performance. Everybody held their nerve in tense conditions. The credit goes to the bowlers for the way they pulled the game in our favour in the end overs,’ Rahane was quoted as saying by IPL’s official website.
‘I am very happy for all the bowlers, particularly James Faulkner. He actually brought us back in the game with that three-wicket over. He absolutely deserves his Man of the Match award, which is a great birthday present for him,’ Rahane added.