IPL 2018, KKR vs SRH: Hits and Misses

After winning the toss for the third consecutive time, Sunrisers Hyderabad opted to field first for the third consecutive time.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar who was rested due to a sore back came back in the side and had an impact straight away, as he dismissed Robin Uthappa in the third over of the innings. However, Chris Lynn was scratchy but he was still effective as he scored a 34-ball 49.

But after Lynn’s dismissal, nothing went right for KKR, as they were restricted to 138/8. Bhuvneshwar finished with 3 wickets, while Billy Stanlake and Shakib Al Hasan took 2 wickets each.

Chasing under 7 runs per over, SRH got off to a fast start as they reached 32/0 in 3 overs. But Narine took a couple of quick wickets to put SRH in a little bit of pressure.

Kuldeep Yadav then dismissed Manish Pandey to reduce SRH to 55/3. But Kane Williamson and Shakib Al Hasan stitched a very good 59-run partnership for the fourth wicket, to put SRH back on track before, the former kept his cool to take SRH close.

Yusuf Pathan then went and scored a 7-ball 17 to help the visitors go over the line with one over to spare.

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#5 Hit: Bhuvneshwar Kumar

After missing the last game against Mumbai Indians due to a sore back, Bhuvneshwar Kumar led the SRH bowling attack beautifully.

The two-time Purple Cap winner was on the money right from the start of the game. In the first over, he was tight with his line and length and gave just one in his first over.

He then dismissed Robin Uthappa and gave SRH the early breakthrough they were looking for, after opting to bowl first. Bhuvneshwar’s first spell figures were 1/11 in 2 overs.

He came back at the death and was simply brilliant. In the 17th over, he gave just 2 runs and also picked up the wicket of Shubman Gill.

In the 19th over, despite not being at his best, Bhuvneshwar got the key wicket of Dinesh Karthik. The Indian fast pacer bowled a couple of no-balls and also was hit for a six and still went for 12 runs in his last over.

He ended the game with figures of 3/26 in 4 overs.

#4 Miss: Robin Uthappa

Uthappa hasn't quite fired in this IPL

Kolkata Knight Riders experimenting with Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa had to be moved to No. 3. He looked quite fluent in the two innings but, he threw it away in both innings as he scored only 13 and 29 in the two games.

But KKR decided to end the Narine experiment and thus, Uthappa went back to his preferred position (opening the batting). However, he once again failed get going.

Uthappa took strike and played out four dot balls, before getting off the mark in the first over. In the next Bhuvneshwar Kumar over (third over of the innings), Uthappa edged a back of a length delivery, and it was caught by the keeper. But, DRS came to SRH’s rescue as Uthappa was sent packing for a laborious 8-ball 3.

#3 Hit: Kane Williamson

Williamson was quite calm under pressure

There were a lot of eyebrows raised when Kane Williamson was named the captain of SRH in the absence of David Warner. Williamson the captain, was never in question but, it was his T20 batting that was in doubt.

However, the New Zealand captain silenced his critics in style as he struck an excellent 50. Chasing 139, Williamson walked out to bat at No. 3 but, he soon found his team at 55/3.

He remained calm as he forged a 59-run partnership with Shakib Al Hasan. But, after the latter’s dismissal, Williamson took it the responsibility and scored a 44-ball 50.

However, he fell in the 18th over with 20 runs to get, but he had done his job as he absorbed the pressure very well and took SRH close.

#2 Miss: Andre Russell

Andre Russell was disappointing with both bat and ball

After a superb game against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) where he scored a blistering 88, Russell failed with both bat and ball in this game.

Coming into bat at a similar situation as the last game, Russell struck a six off his fourth ball but, was dismissed the very next ball by Billy Stanlake.

It was a poor stroke from the West Indian allrounder, as 40 deliveries were still left and he went for a big slog only to top-edge it and get caught.

With the ball, Russell shared the new ball and bowled the second over of the innings, but he went for 10 runs. He then came back in the 12th over and conceded two fours and a six to Shakib AL Hasan, and that over released all the pressure created by other KKR bowlers.

All in all, Russell had a real off day, as he scored just 9 with the bat, and had figures of 0/39 in his 3 overs.

#1 Hit: Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib had a wonderful game

Shakib Al Hasan was a key member of the KKR setup over the last few years. However, this year he was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad, and just in the third game in this season, he was up against his old team at the Eden Gardens.

After being put into bat, KKR had a good powerplay as they managed 49/1. Chris Lynn and Nitish Rana were going very well, but as soon as the powerplay was over, Shakib came on and applied the brakes to the scoring rate.

He gave away just 3 runs in his first over. After the rain-break, Shakib continued with the good work as he conceded only 4 in his second over.

Then in his last two overs, Shakib dismissed Sunil Narine and Chris Lynn in the span of two overs to tilt the balance of the game in the favour of SRH. He also took a very good catch off his own bowling to send Lynn packing. Shakib finished with 2/21 and was also excellent in the field.

With the bat, he came in at 55/3 and looked very good, as he took the pressure off Kane Williamson. He did take a few deliveries to get used to the pitch. But, it was the 12th over in which he got stuck into Andre Russell.

After top-edging one for a boundary, Shakib then lofted one over mid-off before cutting one over point for six, and suddenly fetched 14 runs in 3 balls, to shift the momentum in SRH’s favour. He was dismissed for a well-made 27.

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