IPL 2018, SRH vs KKR: 3 Unnoticed things from the game

The 54th match of the IPL saw Williamson’s SRH and DK’s KKR face each other at Hyderabad. This was a vital match for KKR because a win would ensure a playoff qualification for them. Kane Willaimson won the toss and decided to bat first.

Goswami was promoted up the order to partner Dhawan and he proved his potential with a vital contribution. Once Goswami got out Kane came in and started attacking from the very first ball. At one stage SRH was cruising with 141-2 at the end of 15 overs and looked set to score 200. But some outstanding death overs bowling by KKR ensured that SRH finished with a par score of 172.

Chasing 173, Narine yet again got off to a lightning start scoring 29 runs off just 10 balls. Then, Uthappa and Lynn made batting look so easy as the run rate never got out of control. DK came in at 4 and played a sensible knock and took his team over the line comfortably.

Here are the 3 unnoticed things from this match:

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#1 SRH lost 5 wickets in the last 2 overs

At the end of the 18th over SRH were 161-4 and looked set for a score in the 180s range with Pandey and Brathwaite at the crease and Shakib waiting in the dugout. But Russell had other plans. He bowled a pacy short ball to his country mate Brathwaite and got him caught behind. He only conceded 7 off that over.

Then, Prasidh Krishna bowled an insane last over which was full of strange dismissals. The very first ball he got Pandey out caught at deep midwicket. The next ball he bowled a terrific yorker to Shakib followed by a boundary. He followed it by taking the wickets of Shakib and Rashid with back to back deliveries. The last wicket belonged to DK as he hit the bull’s eye when Bhuvi missed a short delivery.

#2 Goswami gets a chance to bat after 3 games

Goswami had to wait and watch in the dugout for 3 games as the SRH top order batted well and chased big scores. This time he got a chance to open the innings and he made use of this opportunity and scored a crucial 36. The highlight of his knock was the 3rd over bowled by Russell where he ripped him apart by scoring 18 runs.

In the third ball of that over he made room and beautifully lifted it over cover for six. The next ball was almost a repeat of the same shot but this time it fetched him only 4 runs and the last ball of that over was beautifully guided pass third man. The southpaw looked in good touch throughout the innings and has almost cemented a place for him in the starting 11 of SRH.

#3 Hattrick win for KKR and hat trick loss for SRH

When this tournament started not many gave KKR a chance to qualify for the playoffs. There was a huge responsibility on DK to lead a franchise as big as KKR that too after someone as good as Gambhir has left the franchise.

KKR were in a tough situation after consecutive losses to Mumbai but DK has repaid the faith KKR had in him by leading the team with utter calmness and composure. He has also evolved as a finisher which was evident in today’s game as he was quite comfortable with taking the game to the last over and winning it.

On the other hand, SRH were the first team to qualify for the playoffs and looked really intimidating at one point. But ever since Pant took Bhuvi and co apart, their bowling has lost some venom and looks a bit ordinary now. Also, their middle order looks very fragile and they would want to rectify those errors before the playoffs start.