IPL 2022 | Clinical SRH thump KKR; latter face second successive loss

Blistering knocks from Rahul Tripathi and Aiden Markram and brilliant performances from the Umran Malik-led pace attack have helped Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) claim their third consecutive win of the season as they thumped the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by seven wickets.

Chasing 173 to win, the Sunrisers once again got off to a poor start as they lost openers Abhishek Sharma and Kane Williamson cheaply.

Sharma, who struggled throughout his 10-ball stay at the crease, chopped onto his stumps off the bowling of Pat Cummins in the 2nd over. Whereas Williamson, too, met the same fate as he chopped it onto his stumps for a 16-ball 17 during an attempt to pull Andre Russell.

However, the loss of two early wickets did not impact SRH as 'intent-machine' Rahul Tripathi once again showcased just why he is one of the most highly rated domestic players.

The former KKR player dished out his 360 strokeplay to the hilt, and it was due to his 18 off just eight deliveries propelled SRH to 46/2 at the end of the powerplay.

Tripathi didn't stop after the powerplay as he took the attack to Aman Hakim Khan and Varun Chakravarthy to smash them for three sixes and a couple of fours in the next two overs.

The right-hander raced to yet another IPL fifty in just 21 deliveries in the second over bowled by Varun, which also saw Aiden Markram club the mystery spinner for a six and a four.

SRH hammered 45 runs between overs 6-10, and while the next three overs saw KKR concede just 18 runs, Markram broke the shackles in the 14th over by smoking Umesh Yadav for three consecutive deliveries.

Tripathi (71 off 37 deliveries) then welcomed Russell in the attack by pulling him for a six before holing out at deep mid-wicket in an attempt to do an encore.

The duo added 94 runs for the third wicket in just 8 overs, and by the time Tripathi perished, the equation was reduced to just 43 off 34 deliveries.

But Markam's unbeaten 36-ball 58 ensured no last-minute twist as SRH romped home by seven wickets in the 18th over.

Blazing knocks from Nitish Rana, Dre Russ lift KKR to 175/8

Earlier, a breathtaking 36-ball 54 from Rana and a typically entertaining unbeaten 25-ball 49 from Russell guided the Knight Riders to 175/8 in 20 overs.

That KKR were able to post as high as this was mainly due to the duo of Rana and Russell after they got off to a horrible start on a pitch that had pace and bounce.

Making his debut for a record ninth IPL team, Aaron Finch failed to make an impact as he tried to heave Marco Jansen from his crease, only to nick off to the keeper for a 5-ball 7.

Venkatesh Iyer also didn't last long as T Natarajan ended his troubled stay at the crease with a seam up good-length delivery. However, Iyer, who was trying to flick him on the on-side, left a gap between his bat and pad, and that was enough for Natarajan to knock his stumps over.

KKR again decided to promote Sunil Narine to perform the pinch-hitting role. While he smoked Natarajan for a six on the first delivery he faced, the left-arm seamer had the last laugh as he dismissed him on the next delivery.

It was a low full-toss from Natarajan, and Narine backed away from the crease, only to chip it tamely to Shashank Singh at cover-point.

KKR managed just 38 runs in the powerplay but most importantly, they lost three crucial wickets, and the onus now was on skipper Shreyas to guide the fledgeling ship.

But, on a pitch with pace and bounce, facing someone like Umran Malik was always a challenging task for the right-hander. 

And, it exactly proved to be the case as Shreyas looked all at sea against the pace of Umran, eventually getting knocked over by a searing yorker for a 25-ball 28.

Sheldon Jackson hit a lusty blow off Umran for a six, but the bowler had the last laugh as the wicketkeeper-batter top-edged an attempted pull-shot. At 103/5 after 13 overs, KKR desperately needed a big push from Rana and Andre Russell to get past the 165-mark. And that is exactly what they got from the duo.

Rana looked in his elements on Friday night as the southpaw smashed his maiden IPL fifty after a gap of 19 innings. He pummelled six fours and a couple of sixes during his 36-ball 54 and along with Russell, added 39 runs in just 4.2 overs.

Russell was troubled by a hugely impressive Umran (2/27 in four overs), who bowled a brilliant 17th over, conceding just 2 runs.

However, the West Indian liked the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and co and hammered four fours and as many sixes to help KKR finish powerfully.

Brief Scores: 

Kolkata Knight Riders - 175/8 (20)

Nitish Rana 54 (36), Andre Russell 49* (25);

T Natarajan 3/37 (4), Umran Malik 2/27 (4)

Sunrisers Hyderabad - 176/3 (17.5)

Rahul Tripathi 71 (37), Aiden Markram 68* (36);

Andre Russell 2/20 (2)

Sunrisers Hyderabad won by seven wickets.