Sunrisers Hyderabad secured another exciting win defeating Kings XI Punjab by five wickets in Match 25 of IPL6 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Friday night.
Chasing a relatively easy target of 124, Hyderabad overhauled the target comfortably making 127 for five in 18.5 overs.
This is Hyderabad's five victory from seven matches taking them to the top of the table with 10 points.
Hyderabad were jolted early during their run chase when they lost a wicket without any score on the board.
Hanuma Vihari (46) and Akshat Reddy (19) put things back into perspective to put Hyderabad in cruise control.
But Hyderabad were suddenly in a state of bother when they lost skipper Cameron White (16) and Biplab Samantray (10) before Thisara Perera sparked off a great knock to completely take the game away from Punjab.
Perera's belligerent 23 off 11 balls consisting of three huge sixes meant Hyderabad achieved the target with still seven balls to spare.
Earlier, Kings XI Punjab performed in patches but it was SunRisers Hyderabad’s bowling that was impressive as they restricted Punjab to only 123 for nine in 20 overs.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Adam Gilchrist looked promising but even before he began to open up he succumbed scoring 26 from 25 balls including four boundaries.
David Hussey (22) and Piyush Chawla (23) provided some entertainment to boost Punjab’s score and shared a vital 40-run stand for the fourth wicket.
However, once this partnership came to an end, Punjab witnessed a mini collapse and suddenly from 104 for 4 they were reeling at 115 for eight finally ending their innings at 123 for nine in 20 overs.
While Ishant Sharma and Karan Sharma made early inroads claiming two wickets each, Amit Mishra struck lower the order to bag two for Hyderabad.
SUNRISERS HYDERABAD INNINGS
Perera's big hitting puts an end to Punjab's hopes. Hyderabad secure five-wicket victory. Specatators delighted.
Hyderabad get a boundary of Ashish Reddy, but still a tight equation. They are 106 for 5 in 18 overs.
Great over from Mahmood and it's all going down the wire. Hyderabad are 99 for 5 in 17 overs.
B Samantray lbw b Azhar Mahmood 10 (12b 1x4 0x6)
Mahmood is getting Punjab right into the game. Picks up a wicket in the very first ball of his second spell.
A dramatic over from Gony. A wicket and then a boundary from Samantray and four runs byes. Hyderabad are 97 for 4 in 16 overs.
C White b Gony 16 (23b 1x4 0x6)
Gony strikes and its another big wicket. White goes and Hyderabad are precariously placed at 87 for 4. They now need 37 from 29 balls.
Only singles this over from Chawla. Hyderabad are 87 for 3 in 15 overs.
Good over from Gony. But one cheeky boundary from White ensures seven runs comes of that over. Hyderabad are 82 for 3 in 14 overs.
Runs coming in singles at the moment. Hyderabad are 75 ffor 3 in 13 overs.
Chawla has a good over. Hyderabad need 54 runs from 48 balls.
G Vihari c Hussey b Chawla 46 (39b 5x4 0x6)
Chawla ends Vihari's good run. A great innings comes to an end.
Punjab need a wicket desperately. But Hyderabad going strong. They reach 66 for 2 in 11 overs.
Six runs coming off that over. Hyderabad need 68 from 60 balls.
Punjab keep it tight. Hyderabad have slowed down a bit. They are 50 for 2 in 9 overs.
Hyderabad needs 76 to 72 balls.
A Reddy c Azhar Mahmood b Gony 19
A blinder! Great catch from Azhar Mahmood off Gony. Hyderabad lose second.
Chawla comes into bowl. Not an impressive one. 10 runs coming off it. Hyderabad are 43 for 1 in 7 overs.
Hyderabad going good. Reach 33 for 1 in 6 overs. They now need 91 runs from 84 balls.
Reddy and Vihari doing some good running between wickets. Hyderabad reach 25 for 1 in 5 overs.
Reddy and Vihari steady Hyderabad innings. They reach 11 for 1 in 3 overs.
Praveen bowls an impressive maiden first over. Hyderabad 0 for 1.
Q de Kock b Kumar 0 (4b 0x4 0x6)
Praveen Kumar strikes early. Hyderabad lose de Kock for duck.
KINGS XI PUNJAB INNINGS
That's it. Punjab will be happy not to lose all their wickets. But still well short of their expected total after the late collapse. Punjab manage 123 for nine in 20 overs.
Punjab were 104 for 4 and slid from there to 115 for 9. Great bowling from Hyderabad.
Gurkeerat Singh b Steyn 17 (12b 1x4 1x6
Hat trick for Hyderabad. Steyn strikes in his very first ball and Punjab are reeling at 115 for nine.
M Vohra c I Sharma b Mishra 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)
It's all happening out there. Mishra strikes again. Third wicket in this over. Manan Vohra goes for a duck.
MS Gony run out 0 (0b 0x4 0x6
There's a run out and Gony is gone.
Azhar Mahmood c Ashish Reddy b Mishra 4 (4b 1x4 0x6)
After giving away two boundaries, Mishra strikes to end Mahmood.
Azhar Mahmood is the new man in.
D Hussey c Reddy b I Sharma 22 (24b 1x4 1x6)
Fine bowling from Ishant. Gets the big wicket of David Hussey. Akshat Reddy fumbles in the deep but latches on to it.
Gurkeerat and Hussey going strong. Punjab reach 102 for 4 in 16 overs.
15 overs and Punjab are 92 for 4. Some big hits from here can give them a good total.
P Chawla run out 23 (15b 1x4 2x6)
A completely messed up run and Perera has all the time in the world to run out Chawla.
Hussey pulls a superb six off Ishant Sharma. But Sharma still manages bounce back as Punjab score 88 for 3 in 14 overs. 40 partnership between Hussey and Chawla in five overs.
Perera returns to bowl. Three runs from that over. Punjab are 79 for 3 in 13 overs.
Chawla dealing in boundaries at the moment. Another boundary off Mishra and PUnjab are 76 for 3 in 12 overs.
Piyush Chawla brings a huge six and there's another. Big relief for Punjab. Good over getting them 14 runs. Punjab 69 for 3 in 11 overs.
One lucky boundary for Hussey behind the 'keeper and Punjab are 55 for 3 in 10 overs.
White uses his strategy, brings in Steyn and he can be dangerous. Punjab look worried suddenly.
P Valthaty c Perera b KV Sharma 6 (17b 0x4 0x6)
Sharma strikes again. This time Valthaty and Punjab are 48 for 3 in 9 overs.
A Gilchrist c I Sharma b KV Sharma 26 (25b 4x4 0x6)
Karan Sharma has been bowling an impressive line and he is awarded. Gilchrist goes for a big one but holes one in the deep to Ishant Sharma.
Amit Mishra has come into bowl. Good over from him conceding only three runs. Punjab are 45 for 1 in 8 overs
Six runs coming of that over, Gilly and Valthaty looking strong. Punjab are 42 for 1 in 7 overs.
Gilchrist is on fire. Punjab 36 for 1 in 6 overs.
Great over for Punjab. Three boundaries and Punjab reach 29 for 1 in five overs.
Gilchrist welcomes Perera with a lovely boundary. Then pulls another one. Turning out to be a good over. Punjab need those frequently.
Styen continues to dominate. Another good over as Punjab reach 17 for 1 in 4 overs.
Valthaty joins Gilchrist. Steyn bowls his second over.
Ishant Sharma provides the first break. Terrible shot played by Mandeep as his top edge is taken well by wicketkeeper de Kock. Punjab are 16 for 1 in 3 overs.
Mandeep Singh c de Kock b I Sharma 10 (11b 1x4 0x6)
FIrst boundary for Mandeep. Punjab reach 10 for no loss.
Steyn bowls and a good over Punjab 6 for 0 in 2 overs.
Good over for Hyderabad. Vihari concedes only two from the first over. Punjab are 2 for 0 in 1 over.
Adam Gilchrist and Mandeep Singh prepare to open for Punjab. Spin for Hyderabad and Hanuma Vihari bowls.
Here are the teams.
Sunrisers Hyderabad: C White, T Perera, Q de Kock, G Vihari, A Ashish Reddy, K Sharma, B Samantray, A Mishra, D Steyn, I Sharma, A Reddy
Kings XI Punjab: A Gilchrist, Mandeep Singh, P Valthaty, D Hussey, Azhar Mahmood, M Vohra, Gurkeerat Singh, P Chawla, P Kumar, MS Gony, D Mascarenhas
Dark horses SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) take on Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in Match 25 of IPL6 at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on Friday.
The SunRisers are sitting pretty with four wins from six matches including a remarkable effort in their previous match when they defended 119 to win by 11 runs.
Kings XI Punjab have won two of their four matches this season and come into this match at the back of a thrilling four-run victory against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders.