IPL 2015: Sunrisers Hyderabad scorch Kings XI Punjab

Mohali: Pace spearhead Trent Boult led the way with three wickets after David Warner’s brisk half-century laid the foundation as Sunrisers Hyderabad recorded a 20-run win over Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League here on Monday.

 

Put into bat first, opener Warner top-scored with a 41-ball 58 to lift Sunrisers to a modest 150 for six. The bowlers then produced a disciplined effort to restrict Punjab to 130/9 in 20 overs, paving the way for the visiting side’s third win of the season. 

Boult returned impressive figures of 3/19 in his four-over spell while Bhuvneshwar Kumar chipped in with two wickets. Wriddhiman Saha top-scored for Punjab with a 33-ball 42.

 

Earlier, A. Ashish Reddy smashed 22 off eight balls towards the end with the help of two last-over sixes, helping Sunrisers reach the 150-mark. In reply, Kings XI Punjab, playing without the veteran Virender Sehwag, were jolted by the early loss of Manan Vohra and Shaun Marsh, both batsmen playing on against Boult and Kumar respectively to leave the visitors reeling at 13 for two in the fourth over.

 

Murali Vijay, after spending some time in the middle for his 12 runs, made his way back to the pavilion following a terrible mix-up with David Miller (15) while going for what seemed an unnecessary second run.

 

Around the half-way mark, bottom-placed Punjab were struggling at 61 for four, requiring 90 runs from 60 balls to climb up the ladder. The hosts were dealt another body blow when leg-spinner Karn Sharma bagged the wicket of Miller who skied one to Boult at long off. With the required run rate shooting up, Miller got a leading edge while trying to hit Sharma down the ground.

 

Skipper George Bailey got out as his mishit found Sharma at mid off after the batsman made 22 off 16 balls.