Highlights:
- SRH defeats KXIP by 69 runs in IPL 2020 Match 22
- SRH now sits at 3rd position on IPL 2020 points table, KXIP sits at 8th position
- KXIP is the only team in IPL 2020 to have lost 4 consecutive matches
In the 22nd match of the Indian Premier League 2020, SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) scored a massive 201 for 6 and bundled up Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) for 132 in just 16.5 overs, which was played on the 8th of October.
SRH skipper David Warner revealed that at one point in the game he was a bit nervous as KXIP’s Nicholas Pooran had started hitting sixes and boundaries with ease.
However, Warner said that he had complete faith in his bowlers to pick wickets at crucial points of the game.
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In the post-match interview, Warner said, “I was a bit nervous while Nicholas was hitting it over the stands,”. Having played with Pooran in Bangladesh, Warner kept thinking on “what can I do, how can I get him out,”.
Nicholas Pooran scored a massive inning where he scored 77 runs off of just 37 deliveries which included seven sixes and five boundaries.
The 25-year old’s assault with the bat brought up his maiden half century in IPl in just 17 balls. It is the fastest fifty in the IPL 2020 as he bettered 19 balls for 50 runs by Rajasthan Royals’ Sanju Samson in IPL this season.
Pooran’s maiden fifty is the second-fastest by any KXIP player, as he comes second only to the skipper K L Rahul’s record of 14 ball for 50 runs against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2018 against DC and a joint fourth fastest overall in the IPL with the like of Chris Gayle and Adam Gilchrist.
Yusuf Pathan sits at 2nd position in terms of fastest fifties in IPL with 15 balls for 50 against SunRisers Hyderabad in 2014, Sunil Narine’s 15 balls for 50 in a match versus Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2017 and Suresh Raina’s 16 balls for 50 against KXIP in 2014, lead in the overall list of fastest 50s.
Pooran’s inning with the bat was much needed for KXIP to chase the gigantic total of 201 set by SRH. However, the West-Indian’s effort failed to take KXIP across the line as there was no support from the other end.
KXIP’s batting woes continued to plague the team as their skipper and purple cap holder KL Rahul had a dull day with the bat. The terrible form of Glenn Maxwell continued as he was run out for just seven runs on the scoreboard under his name.
Warner was all praise for his bowlers, especially their Afghan leg-spinner Rashid Khan who produced an impressive spell of 3 wickets for just for 12 runs.