Hyderabad beat Chennai to stay in contention
The Sunrisers Hyderabad remained in the hunt for a berth in the play-offs stage of the Indian Premier League on the back of a reasonably comfortable seven-wicket victory over the Chennai Super Kings at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Thursday.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad remained in the hunt for a berth in the play-offs stage of the Indian Premier League on the back of a reasonably comfortable seven-wicket victory over the Chennai Super Kings at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi.
Thursday's earlier result confirmed the Knight Riders' graduation alongside the Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings – and the Royal Challengers Bangalore's exit.
The fourth and final spot will go to the Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians or Hyderabad. The Delhi Daredevils have already been omitted from contention in the wake of seven successive defeats.
The Sunrisers' triumph was fashioned by leg-spinner Karn Sharma's key brace and opening batsman David Warner's cavalier assault, handing the Super Kings a third consecutive defeat this month.
Sharma cherished the key dismissals of West Indian big-hitter Dwayne Smith and the left-handed Suresh Raina, completing economical figures of two for 19 in four overs. The only spinner in a six-man attack spearheaded by South African pace ace Dale Steyn, the young Indian deserved plenty of appreciation.
While brisk half-centuries from Australian David Hussey and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni ensured the Super Kings a final total of 185 for three, it ultimately proved entirely insufficient in the face of Warner's onslaught.
The in-form left-hander struck three sixes and a dozen fours en route to an entertaining 90 from just 45 deliveries. He took a particular liking to the fodder coughed up by 2014 IPL debutant John Hastings, who gleefully had the final say in dismissing fellow Australian Warner.
A commanding 64 not out from opener Shikhar Dhawan, meanwhile, was at hand to ensure no cause for alarm across the closing throes. Dhawan's unbeaten 64 stood – loud and proud – at the fore of triumph with two deliveries to spare.
Friday's IPL matches will see Mumbai host Delhi at the Wankhede Stadium – and the Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan clash in Mohali.
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