Highlights, IPL 2021, SRH vs PBKS Full Cricket Score: Punjab beat Hyderabad in last-over thriller

KL Rahul: Nerve-wracking, but I think I’m used to this now! I hope the TRPs are up because of us, because we’re playing some entertaining cricket, and we’ve been doing that for the last two or three years.

I think Jason Holder played really well, he’s had a fantastic game. He picked up important wickets, and then he came and batted really well too. It was a pitch where you needed powerful batters, and he was one of the few players that I felt could generate some pace out there. A batter like me, I didn’t really feel like I could clear the field. It was important for Chris and Nicholas to get stuck in, we were hoping our runs would come from there, but that didn’t really happen. Still, we’re happy with the win. 

I think today’s win gives us the belief that no matter what position we’re in, if we put a decent total on the board our bowlers can get the opposition out and we can build pressure. Shami started off really well and we got Warner and Williamson out early which it made it easier for our spinners to come in, settle and then pick up a couple of wickets. A lesson for the batters will be to understand that it’s not a 160-170 run wicket, and to not play too many shots. 

Harpreet Brar is a brilliant all-round cricketer, he can field, he can hit the ball and finish. With the ball, he has great control. He’s not easy to step out and hit. He’s a tall bowler, and if the pitch helps him, he’s a very difficult player to face. He loves a challenge, every time I need him he says, “Paaji aap tension mat lo, mai run nahi dunga.” (Don’t worry, I won’t give away runs) That’s the attitude I saw in him and Arshdeep, and that’s why I recruited them.

Jason Holder: “Tough loss. We left a little bit too much in the back end to do. It was good to get a good start [with the ball]. We have five games left and these are important games for us. Fans have always been behind us, so we got to play for them.”

Jason Holder is the Player of the Match for taking three wickets and scoring 47 not out off 29

Finally! 

Now loaded ■■■■■■■■■ 2 points...

Sorry, there was an error last time🤭#SaddaPunjab #IPL2021 #PunjabKings #SRHvPBKS

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) September 25, 2021

Very unlike Sharjah! 

Safe to say it wasn't the most exciting day's cricket. Need a little more life on these pitches

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 25, 2021

Very exciting! 

Excitement! That is what defines IPL. Super performance by Punjab Kings to deny Sunrisers a win despite having a low total! Day one of the IPL Weekend ends! A clash of titans awaits us tomorrow! #IPL #IPL2021

— parthiv patel (@parthiv9) September 25, 2021

Kane Williamson: I think our bowling and fielding unit did a fantastic job. Clearly the surface was a tough on to bat on. We needed to build partnerships, though we knew it wasn’t going to be easy. We were backing ourselves to get close to the target, but in the end it took a bit of individual brilliance from Jason Holder in both halves of the game to keep the match competitive. This is a proud franchise, so it’s been a frustrating season but we need to look for areas to improve on now, and do that as soon as possible.

I suppose we tried to learn a few lessons from the first half when we went out to bat. We were looking to build a few platforms, which was challenging. To get ourselves into a position to win the match but without wickets in hand is one of the disappointing things about the innings. We come again though, the challenge is to pick ourselves up and come into the next match with a fresh perspective and some freedom. Having said that, we’ve had a mixture of surfaces so far, so smart cricket has to come into it to. We’ll keep challenging every team we face, because we know we’ve got it in us.

We too! 

Super match. Jason Holder, I feel sorry for you. #SRHvsPBKS #SRHvsPBKS

— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) September 25, 2021

What a win! 

Holder did his best, but no support at the end out paid to #SRH’s hopes of winning. Punjab will heave a sigh of relief. Almost messed up this match too. What matters is they won and stay alive for a place in the play offs

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) September 25, 2021

Punjab Kings win by five runs!

After 20 overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad 120/7 ( Jason Holder 47 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3)

Nathan Ellis to bowl the final over. Bhuvneshwar misses the first delivery, but he doesn’t care, he’s already off and sprinting. Holder on strike. He needs 16 from 5 to win it. Oof, that’s a terrible decision from Ellis, it’s got good length on it and Holder sends it looping away for a six over long-on. Ellis needs something different. He comes up with something different, it’s a slower, shorter and wider ball that looks a bit inelegant, but denies Holder the opportunity to hit. It’s a dot. Another dot, it’s a slightly wider yorker. Wide. Holder then runs a double. 7 runs needed off the last ball. A six will be a super over. Holder has only one choice really, he needs to get it up and over the boundary rope. Ellis has a few choices at his disposal. What kind of delivery will he go for? It’s a low full toss, and Holder can’t get enough on it! It falls well short of the boundary rope, and the Punjab Kings win by five runs.

SIX! Jason Holder cracks it over long-on!

After 19 overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad 109/7 ( Jason Holder 38 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3)

Arshdeep to bowl his final over, and once again Rashid will be hoping to get off strike and let Holder do some damage. Oh, Arshdeep’s got his wicket! He bowls a shorter delivery to Rashid Khan, who tries to go for the pull but ends up skying it. It’s hit almost straight up, and Arshdeep sprints to get under it and take the catch with ease. Holder’s managed to cross over though. Nothing immediately dangerous comes from the next few deliveries, as a dot, single and dot follow. Bhuvneshwar then runs a double after lofting between long-off and deep point. Bhuvneshwar takes a swing but miscues it, running a single instead. Good over from Arshdeep.

OUT! Rashid Khan walks, and it’s all Arshdeep here, who forces him into skying a shot after bowling him a shorter ball and then takes the catch himself. Rashid Khan c & b Arshdeep Singh 3 (4 balls)

After 18 overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad 105/6 ( Jason Holder 37 , Rashid Khan 3)

Mohammed Shami to bowl his final over. Rashid Khan will face the first delivery, and he’ll be hoping to get off strike quickly. Manages to do just that with a single. What can Holder do now, can he use the pace of Shami to go big? YES HE CAN! He sends a cannon of a shot over long-on and well past the boundary rope, Shami really teed him up with that delivery. Shami course corrects a little, and bowls back to back dots. This could be headed for a tight finish. Two singles to finish the over, the Sunrisers need 21 runs in 12 balls

SIX! Jason Holder pummels this over long-on!

After 17 overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad 96/6 ( Jason Holder 30 , Rashid Khan 1)

Well, that’s just disappointing. After looking like they were going to pull a late comeback out of their hat, Wriddhiman Saha and Jason Holder have massively messed up their chase. The two play a quick game of chicken with each other while trying to run a double, and end up stranded in the middle of the pitch. Arshdeep Singh throws to Bishnoi, who whips off the bails and sends Saha back to the dressing room. Absolute shambles this, and the last thing SRH needed at the moment. Two singles and a dot follow. Holder clips to fine leg and runs two.  Dot to end, pretty good over all things considered.

OUT! The last thing Sunrisers Hyderabad needed, they’re their own worst enemy as they confuse themselves which causes Wriddhiman Saha to be run out. Wriddhiman Saha run out (Arshdeep Singh/Ravi Bishnoi) 31 (37 balls)

After 16 overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad 91/5 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 30 , Jason Holder 27)

YES, HOLDER SHOWS HE WANTS THIS WIN! He hits a massive six on Nathan Ellis’ first ball, it flies over deep square leg. He then doubles down with another maximum on the next delivery, this one hit firmly down the ground and over the bowler’s head. Two singles, a double and a dot to end the over, 16 runs off it and SRH have been given a real shot in the arm by Holder’s exploits. We head into a timeout, what can KL Rahul do to take the wind out of their sails and nip this attempted comeback in the bud?

SIX! SIX! Jason Holder is running riot here, back to back sixes! The first one is whacked away over deep square leg and the second over the bowler’s head

After 15 overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad 75/5 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 29 , Jason Holder 12)

Bishnoi to bowl his last over. Holder runs a quick double on the first ball after ramping the delivery to fine leg. Two singles, and then a gorgeous delivery from Bishnoi almost takes Holder’s bails clean off, it was just an inch or two high. Holder takes a breath, contemplates his near miss, and then unleashes a six straight down the ground. That’ll give SRH a little belief, but it needs to be built on.

SIX! Jason Holder manages to catch that one sweetly, and it’s hit straight down the ground!

PBKS leading currently! 

#SRH are in a rut. Bishnoi running through the middle order like a hot knife through butter. Holder’s got some renown as a late order batsman. But on this track in this situation, will take something truly extraordinary from him and Saha for SRH to turn match around

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) September 25, 2021

After 14 overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad 64/5 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 28 , Jason Holder 2)

Harpreet Brar continues, and Holder on to bat for SRH. Three singles to begin, before Brar bowls a dot. He won’t really mind letting the SRH pair run quick singles, at the moment, if they can’t score a few boundaries, they’re well and truly done for. Dot and a single to end, Brar’s four overs come to an end, and though he didn’t get a wicket, he’s been very economical.

After 13 overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad 60/5 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 26 , Jason Holder 0)

A bit of treatment from the physio for Wriddhiman Saha, he gets his arm sprayed down. Troubling signs or just a precautionary measure? Time will tell, I suppose. Bishnoi continues. Dot ball to begin, and then Bishnoi strikes again! It’s Kedar Jadhav who is sent packing, and it was thanks to a devilishly clever delivery from Bishnoi, which is pushed onto the wicket by Jadhav’s bat. The new batter Abdul Samad gets off the mark with a single, and then Bishnoi thinks he’s got Wriddhiman Saha out here. He appeals for LBW, but the umpire is wholly unconvinced. Bishnoi talks KL Rahul into reviewing, it’s taken good hard look at but there’s nothing in it. Single, and then Abdul Samad is sent back in double-quick time, after his leading edge loops up and then back down into the hands of Chris Gayle, who holds on to well and truly make up for his fielding gaffe from earlier. Immense over from Bishnoi, he’s had quite an impact on this match.

OUT! Abdul Samad is sent packing! Ravi Bishnoi strikes yet again! Abdul Samad c Gayle b Ravi Bishnoi 1 (2 balls)

OUT! Ravi Bishnoi is on the money, he gets the wicket of Kedar Jadhav with a cunning delivery! Kedar Jadhav b Ravi Bishnoi 12 (12 balls)

After 12 overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad 56/3 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 25 , Kedar Jadhav 12)

Harpreet Brar is back, and his first delivery results in three runs for SRH, after Chris Gayle makes a comical attempt at a dive while fielding at short third man, only to completely miss the ball. He does eventually manage to chase it down and prevent a boundary though, so I suppose it’s all even. Four straight singles, and then a double thanks to an overthrow. 9 runs off it, and finally, an over that reduced the RRR for SRH instead of increasing it.

After 11 overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad 47/3 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 21 , Kedar Jadhav 7)

More Ravi Bishnoi for us to enjoy now. He starts off by conceding a single and then bowls a dot. He’s a really tricky customer, and it’s easy to see him picking up another wicket or two over the course of his remaining overs, especially with SRH currently in a desperate situation. Two singles and a dot, following which he bowls a wide. He bowls it again, and Saha attempts to sweep, but it hits him on the body and bounces away. 4 runs from the over.

After 10 overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad 43/3 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 20 , Kedar Jadhav 5)

Change in bowling, Ellis is back. Single off the first ball. The required run rate has been sneakily creeping up on SRH, it’s gone from just over 6 to just under 8. Singles won’t exactly cut it at the moment, Hyderabad really need some boundaries, before this molehill becomes a mountain. Single and two dots. A good single from Saha, he’s really been running his socks off. A single to end the over, 4 from it. We’re at the halfway mark, and the Sunrisers need 83 runs in 60 balls.

Sharjah, yeh tune kya kiya! 

Sharjah pitch is making a sincere effort to keep the love for Test cricket alive. Skill. Will. All getting Tested. #IPL2O21 #CricketTwitter

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 25, 2021

After 9 overs,Sunrisers Hyderabad 39/3 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 18 , Kedar Jadhav 3)

Brar continues, as KL Rahul attempts to continue piling the pressure onto SRH. Single and dot to begin, before Saha and Jadhav run a quick double. Wriddhiman Saha is probably SRH’s best bet for victory at the moment, they’ll be hoping he has a batting masterclass hidden away up his sleeve. Single, double and single to round out the over, seven runs off it. We head into a strategic timeout.

After 8 overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad 32/3 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 14 , Kedar Jadhav 0)

Ravi Bishnoi comes into the bowling attack. Not the greatest start from him, the first ball is a single and then he gets his length slightly wrong, which allows Manish Pandey to swivel and pull his shot past the square-leg umpire and out for a four. A dot and two singles follow, before Bishnoi does what he does best, and gets another big wicket! It’s an absolutely gorgeous delivery, and Manish Pandey is well and truly done by it, as he misses his attempted flick and can only watch it float onto the stumps.

OUT! Manish Pandey is a goner, and it’s Ravi Bishnoi who gets the wicket in his first over! Manish Pandey b Ravi Bishnoi 13 (23 balls)

Four! Rare boundary for SRH, and it’s Manish Pandey that gets it with a pull!

After 7 overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad 25/2 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 12 , Manish Pandey 8)

First bit of spin, Harpreet Brar comes on. Three singles in a row, and then a wide confuses KL Rahul a little, who lets it roll away from him, allowing an additional single. Three dots to end the over, 5 runs off it.

After 6 overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad 20/2 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 11 , Manish Pandey 6)

Arshdeep Singh is back in, and he begins with a dot ball. These dot balls are almost worth their weight in gold at the moment for Punjab Kings, who are slowly and steadily attempting to stifle SRH’s chase. Single off the second delivery. Saha on strike, and he attempts a risky double, showing great determination to sprint back to the striker’s end and make it home with half a second to spare. Any slower and he’d have been walking off. Single, dot and single. The SRH pair are absolutely sprinting their lungs off to sneak quick singles, but it’s a risky idea, and they’re sorely lacking in the boundary department as well.

After 5 overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad 15/2 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 8 , Manish Pandey 4)

A third over for Mohammed Shami, KL Rahul’s probably hoping to make the most of his skills early on to level the playing field a little. Dot to begin, and then a double, as Markram chases down a shot and prevents it from going across the boundary rope. Pandey then breathes a sigh of relief as the ball hits the top edge of his bat, flies up a few metres into the air and then drops down with no fielders close enough to take the catch. He runs a quick single. Three dots in a row, perhaps it was a bit much to expect yet another wicket from Shami in the over, but it’s still quite a good one, with only three runs coming off it.

After 4 overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad 12/2 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 8 , Manish Pandey 1)

Nathan Ellis in to bowl, and his first delivery clips the top of Saha’s pad. Half-hearted appeal from the bowler but the umpire’s having none of it. Saha gets off strike with a single. Oof, absolute ripper from Ellis, it’s outside off and moving away from the batter a little, Pandey tries to drive but just misses it. The PBKS bowling attack looks exceedingly dangerous here, SRH would do well to exercise caution. Single and dot to end the over, 2 runs come from it.

Who will win?

Two massive blows by Shami getting Warner and Williamson, and Punjab have stormed back into the match. Pitch not easy to bat on but the target’s modest. Sunriser’s match to lose

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) September 25, 2021

After 3 overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad 10/2 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 7 , Manish Pandey 0)

Mohammed Shami continues, can he do what he did in the first over and get a wicket? YES HE CAN! He starts with a dot, and then Kane Williamson is forced to make the long walk back, after getting a massive inside edge and hitting the ball onto the stumps. Shami really is giving his team a fighting chance here. He follows up his wicket with three dot balls to new batter Manish Pandey. Make that four, it’s a wicket maiden.

OUT! SRH skipper Kane Williamson chops onto the stumps, he’s gone! Kane Williamson b Mohammed Shami 1 (6 balls)

After 2 overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad 10/1 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 7 , Kane Williamson (C) 1)

Arshdeep Singh from the other end, and his first delivery is driven past cover by Saha, who gets off the mark with a quickly-run double. Two dots in a row, and they’re almost identical deliveries, full and just outside off. Saha runs a single after pulling to deep midwicket. First run for Williamson, who gets a single. FOUR FROM SAHA, FIRST SIGNS OF INTENT. He casually lifts a ball over cover, and it races off to the boundary line unopposed.

FOUR! Saha gets the first boundary of SRH’s innings!

After 1 overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad 2/1 ( Wriddhiman Saha (W) 0 , Kane Williamson (C) 0)

Mohammed Shami gets us underway, and the first ball is a dot. The second delivery is pretty good, and Warner gets a big inside edge on it, which allows him to get off the mark with a double. There was a big slice of luck for the Australian there, it could have gone anywhere. Oh my word, it’s the worst possible start for Sunrisers Hyderabad’s chase, Warner is out! He swings at a ball that is angling away from him, and an ever-so-faint nick sees him walk after the ball carries through to the safe gloves of KL Rahul. Williamson on, and he’s put under pressure immediately by Shami, whose line and length are just inch-perfect in the early minutes of this match. Three dots in a row, two off the over and a big wicket as well.

OUT!  Early, early wicket for Mohammed Shami, faintest of edges on an attempted shot by Warner and it carries through to KL Rahul. David Warner c Rahul b Mohammed Shami 2 (3 balls)

Alright then, it’s time for probably the most important 20 overs of SRH’s season. They’ve done so well to restrict their opponents to a relatively vulnerable total, and now all that’s left is to put in a solid performance with the bat and secure what would be only their second win of the season so far.

SRH need 126 to win! 
 

14 from last over helps PBKS get to 125/7. The pitch has behaved slower than yesterday and SRH bowlers taking pace off the ball made the job much tougher for Punjab batters but they will be kicking themselves as most of them failed to continue after getting starts. It’s a small total to defend but Punjab bowlers know what works on this pitch.

After 20 overs,Punjab Kings 125/7 ( Harpreet Brar 18 , Mohammed Shami 0)

Expensive over to end things in first innings. Bhuvi ends up conceding 14 from the last over. He got the wicket of Ellis who edged his shot to Pandey at third man but only before getting a six. Brar also got a boundary.

Poor bowling from Bhuvi. Fuller delivery outside off and Brar sends it to deep extra cover fence.

OUT! Nathan Ellis c Pandey b Kumar 12 (12)

Ellis was looking to play this over cover but the thick edge took it to third man and Pandey took a very good catch running back.

Finally a maximum. Ellis capitalises on the fuller outside off ball with a shot down the ground.

After 19 overs,Punjab Kings 111/6 ( Harpreet Brar 12 , Nathan Ellis 6)

Holder starts off with a wide. Next ball is sliced to long off by Brar for a single. Ellis takes one with a push to cover. Brar blasts a slower full toss to long off but it falls ahead of Warner. Two runs collected. Two more from the last two balls. Bowlers taking pace off the ball and that makes striking very tough. Seven from the over.

After 18 overs,Punjab Kings 104/6 ( Harpreet Brar 8 , Nathan Ellis 4)

Bhuvi called back to bowl this over. Ellis dabs the first ball to the fielder at cover. Next ball he gets beaten as it moves away. Single to long off. Three singes on the remaining three balls. PBKS are past 100 now.

After 17 overs,Punjab Kings 100/6 ( Harpreet Brar 6 , Nathan Ellis 2)

Rashid has been given the ball now. Nathan Ellis takes a single on the first ball with a push to cover. Harpreet Brar plays out the remaining balls for naught.

After 16 overs,Punjab Kings 97/6 ( Harpreet Brar 4 , Nathan Ellis 1)

Holder comes back into the attack and takes another wicket. This time however substitute fielder Suchith deserves more credit for the one-hand stunner at the cover to remove Hooda. Four from the over. Wickets keep tumbling for PBKS.

WICKET! Deepak Hooda c sub (J Suchith) b Holder 13 (10)

What a catch by Suchith at cover. Sliced shot by Hooda, didn’t get the elevation and Suchith dives to left to take a one-hand stunner. Holder having quite an impact today.

After 15 overs,Punjab Kings 93/5 ( Deepak Hooda 13 , Harpreet Brar 1)

Leg-spinner Abdul Smad gets the ball with Khaleel and Sandeep off the field and he strikes with the wicket of Markram. The South African was looking to smash the full toss over longoff but could only slice it into the hands of the fielder in deep. Hooda gets boundary in the over. Nine from it.

Excellent inside-out drive over the circle to covers boundary by Hooda off Samad

WICKET! Aiden Markram c Pandey b Abdul Samad 27 (32)

Juciy full toss from Samad. Markram was looking to muscle that into stands but bottom edged it to Pandey at longoff.

After 14 overs,Punjab Kings 84/4 ( Aiden Markram 26 , Deepak Hooda 6)

Khaleel gets the ball now. A boundary in the over for Markram who capitalises on the fuller outside off ball with a cover drive. 10 from the over as PBKS duo keeps rotating the strike.

Fantastic shot! Fuller delivery from Khaleel from over the wicket and Markram crashes it through the cover region.

After 13 overs,Punjab Kings 74/4 ( Aiden Markram 19 , Deepak Hooda 4)

Markram brings out the sweep shot to get a couple of singles off Rashid. Oen leg bye after the South African fails to execute the reverse sweep. New batter Hooda keeps the score ticking along with three more singles. Six from the over.

After 12 overs,Punjab Kings 68/4 ( Aiden Markram 17 , Deepak Hooda 1)

Rashid Khan broke the partnership and now Sandeep has dismissed one of the batters who could have allowed Punjab to go for some late attack. Pooran got a six in the over with a pull shot over cow corner but fell trying to slog the knuckle ball. The contact was from the bottom of the bat and Sandeep took a returning catch. 10 from the over.

OUT! Nicholas Pooran c & b Sandeep Sharma 8 (4)

Punjab lose Pooran. He was looking to blast the fuller slow ball over the bowler but Sandeep stuck his hands out and pulled off a stunner. PBKS dugout is tunned.

This has been smashed over midwicket by Pooran. Length ball and Pooran drags it from off into the stand with a pull shot.

After 11 overs,Punjab Kings 58/3 ( Aiden Markram 15 , Nicholas Pooran 1)

A wicket for Rashid in his second over! It was googly that pitched on leg-middle and pinned Gayle in front of the stumps. The West Indian reviewed but that was not going to save him as the ball spun back into him. Pooran is the new man in. Three from the over.

REVIEW AND OUT! 

Chris Gayle lbw b Rashid Khan 14 (17)

Gayle is struck on front pad trying to defend a fuller delivery that pitches on leg and middle and turns back into him. Gayle reviewed immediately but it is umpire’s call on replays.

After 10 overs,Punjab Kings 55/2 ( Chris Gayle 13 , Aiden Markram 14)

Khaleel starts after the strategy break. Boundary on the first ball for Gayle. The fuller ball is driven down the ground. Wide ball followed by five singles. PBKS batting coach Andy Flower on TV says it is about establishing a partnership and Gayle and Markram are doing exactly that. 10 from the over.

Gayle gets a boundary with a straight drive off Khaleel. The bowler pays the price for bowling full.

After 9 overs,Punjab Kings 45/2 ( Chris Gayle 6 , Aiden Markram 12)

Rashid Khan into the attack. Stars off with a googly that follows Markram cramping him for room. Next ball is driven to covers for a single. Gayle takes single with a push down the ground that hits the stumps and rolls down to covers. Markram gets beaten playing a cut. Dot ball and then a slog sweep to midwicket for a four to end the over. Six from the over.

Finally a boundary for Markram. Times the slog sweep excellently to place his shot to the midwicket fence.

After 8 overs,Punjab Kings 39/2 ( Chris Gayle 5 , Aiden Markram 7)

Holder from this end now. First ball is full and Markram guides it to midwicket for a single. One run for Gayle with a mistimed pull shot. Markram adds another with an inside edge to the legside. Next three balls fetch four more runs. Seven from the over.

After 7 overs,Punjab Kings 32/2 ( Chris Gayle 1 , Aiden Markram 4)

Holder has been asked to take some rest after one successful over. Khaleel Ahmed the bowler now. Two dot balls and then Markar goes for an expansive off drive but gets beaten. Tries it again, gets this over midoff for two runs. Looks like timing the shots is not going to be easy on this track. Markram repeats a lofted shot on off, slices it over but Warner puts down the catch at covers. The South African takes a single. Dot ball to end the over. Three from it.

DROPPED! Warner puts down Markram’s sliced shot just outside the circle at covers. He was running back.

After 6 overs,Punjab Kings 29/2 ( Chris Gayle 1 , Aiden Markram 1)

Sandeep continues. PBKS could have three down but Markram outside edge didn’t carry to keeper Saha. There was a hint of away swing on the length ball but the slowness of the pitch saved the batter. Just two runs from the over.  Fantastic powerplay for SRH.

After 5 overs,Punjab Kings 27/2 ( Chris Gayle 1 , Aiden Markram 0)

Bowling change gets SRH the first wicket. Holder strikes on the first ball. Rahul was looking to break free, stepped out for a flick but played it straight to midwicket fielder. Gayle now joins Agarwal. Dot ball and the West Indian then gets off the mark with a nudge to midwicket. Agarwal perishes after getting the strike. He wanted go big over midoff but the drive didn’t have enough power behind it. Got caught at midoff. Markram now joins Gayle. One run and two wickets from the over.

Two for Holder! 

Mayank Agarwal c Williamson b Holder 5 (6)

Such a soft dismissal this! Agarwal, like his captain, was looking to go big, but the drive could not evade the midoff fielder. SRH on top.

Holder strikes! 

Rahul c (sub)J Suchith b Holder 21(21) 

Rahul’s sluggish innings comes to an end as Holder gets a wicket on his first ball of the match. Rahul was looking to beat the midwicket fielder with the flick on the fuller delivery but found him straight.

After 4 overs,Punjab Kings 26/0 ( KL Rahul (C) (W) 21 , Mayank Agarwal 5)

Three dot balls from Bhuvi at the start of the over. Rahul also got beaten once at the outside edge. The fourth ball is slogged over the circle on off for a double. He adds a boundary with a scoop shot to fine leg. Pitch is looking very slow. Pull shot on last ball for a single. Seven from the over.

Clever batting! Rahul moves across to scoop the fuller delivery to fine leg boundary.

After 3 overs,Punjab Kings 19/0 ( KL Rahul (C) (W) 14 , Mayank Agarwal 5)

Agarwal takes a single with a shot to midwicket. Sandeep’s ball was tailing in. Three dot balls to Rahul who once again missed out trying to play a square cut. Followed by a streaky boundary for Rahul as the outside edge beats the short third man fielder. Single on the last ball. Six from the over.

Edge and four! Sandeep finds Rahul’s outside edge but it was fine enough to beat the short third man.

After 2 overs,Punjab Kings 13/0 ( KL Rahul (C) (W) 9 , Mayank Agarwal 4)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar from the other end. He starts with an outswinger and Rahul gets beaten on the outside edge trying to play a cut shot. The next ball is pushed back to the bowler. Boundary on the next ball for Rahul as he slashes hard after making some room. Luckily the top edge rolls down to the third man boundary. Cut shot then gets him two runs as the fielder does well at wide of the third man. PBKS skipper gets off the mark with a single. Three runs on last ball for Agarwal with Samad doing well with the chase to cut off a boundary at sweeper cover. 10 from the over.

Rahul gets lucks. Moves across to create room and throws his bat on the length ball from Bhuvi. The top edge takes it to the third man fence.

After 1 overs,Punjab Kings 3/0 ( KL Rahul (C) (W) 2 , Mayank Agarwal 1)

Swing straightaway for Sandeep as he gets the first ball to tail in. Rahul bunts it down to midwicket for naught. Another dot and then a quick single as Rahul gets off the mark. Agarwal gets going immediately with a push to midon for one. Another single for Rahul with a push to cover. Dot to end the over.

Time for live action! 

PBKS’ KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal walk out to bat with the hopes of putting up an unsurmountable target. Sandeep Sharma is the bowler for Hyderabad.

Murali Kartik said today’s Sharjah track has more sheen to it than yesterday’s pitch, so we can expect more runs than last evening. Sharjah is known for big sixes. Let’s see what happens today!

Three changes for PBKS…

Rashid, Allen and Porel out for Gayle, Ellis and Bishnoi.

Punjab Kings playing XI: KL Rahul(w/c), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Deepak Hooda, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Nathan Ellis

Sunrisers Hyderabad playing XI: David Warner, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Kane Williamson(c), Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Abdul Samad, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed

KL Rahul: “We are keen to get out there and turn this around. When you are at the bottom of the table, you are still trying to figure out what your best eleven is. With Chris back in the side, it gives me and Mayank a lot of breathing space at the top.”

Kane Williamson: “Chances of dew coming in later on and it’s a small ground. We will try to restrict PBKS to a low score. It’s about staying tight together and making small adjustments. It’s important to keep coming up with that energy and at times it’s easy to reflect on past performances where we have done better but we need to play with that freedom.”

Toss: Kane Williamson wins toss and Sunrisers Hyderabad will be fielding first against Punjab Kings.

Ellis gets PBKS cap

It is being reported that Nathan Ellis will make his debut for Punjab today. We will bring in the confirmation as soon as we have it.

Pitch report: “Yesterday there was some turn on offer, today we are playing on the adjacent surface. The track today is much similar and I feel that it is much soft and there are some spikes on it. I feel it will be better than yesterday, but not too different,” says Murali Kartik.

Possible changes…

Punjab could bring in Chris Jordan or Nathan Ellis to replace Adil Rashid who was expensive in his IPL debut. Also, M Ashwin or Ravi Bishnoi could get a game.

Despite losing their last match, SRH could stick with the same team as they look short on options.

Head to Head

Kane Williamson’s SRH lead this battle12-5 against KL Rahul’s PBKS. In fact, Sunrisers Hyderabad have won the last two of the three matches including the one in the first leg of IPL 2021.

What to expect from Sharjah ground?

Yesterday’s RCB vs CSK match was the first at Sharjah Cricket Ground this season. RCB batting first scored 156 and while CSK chased down the target in only 18.1 overs, the pitch never looked suited to free-flowing batting. Last season, 200-pus scores was a normal thing at the venue and while RCB fell well short of the par score, 200 may still be a tough challenge at Sharjah as pitch appeared sticky.

DC vs RR update

Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals game is on and the Sanju Samson-led team needs 96 more from the last seven overs and are already five down. You can follow the match here.

Umran Malik joins Sunrisers Hyderabad as short-term COVID-19 replacement for T Natarajan

Uncapped medium pacer Umran Malik was on Friday named as a short-term COVID-19 replacement for T Natarajan in the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad for the ongoing Indian Premier League.

Natarajan had tested positive for COVID-19 before the team’s fixture against Delhi Capitals on Wednesday.

“Sunrisers Hyderabad have brought in medium pacer Umran Malik as a short-term COVID-19 replacement for T Natarajan for their VIVO Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 campaign,” an IPL release stated.

Click  here  to read more.

Chennai Super Kings beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by six wickets to retake top spot in standings

Chennai Super Kings produced a clinical all-round show to beat the Royal Challengers Bangalore by six wickets and claim the top spot in the IPL pecking order on Friday.

RCB skipper Virat Kohli (53) and young Devdutt Padikkal (70) struck brisk half-centuries in an impressive 111-run stand but CSK pulled the strings to restrict them to 156 for six after electing to bowl.

The in-form Ruturaj Gaikwad came good again with a quick 38 while Faf du Plessis made 31 at the top to lay a strong foundation for CSK to chase the modest target in 18.1 overs.

Click  here  to read more of the report of last night’s match.

Struggling Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad search for winning momentum

Almost out of reckoning for a playoff berth, bottom-placed Sunrisers Hyderabad will look to play party-poopers when they take on an equally struggling Punjab Kings in the IPL’s battle of laggards on Saturday.

Sunrisers suffered their seventh defeat on Wednesday after being blown away by Delhi Capitals and their play-off chances look less than dim as they have managed just two points after eight games.

Punjab, on the other hand, quite inexplicably found a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory against Rajasthan Royals and will be desperate to find an answer to their problems after being placed seventh with six points from nine matches.

Click  here  to read more of the preview of tonight’s match.

Hello and welcome to our coverage of the IPL!

It’s a thrilling day of action in the Indian Premier League, with the first match of the weekend double-header already underway, and a tantalising clash between the bottom two teams, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings yet to come. Stay tuned as we bring you all the latest updates!