SRH HOLD NERVE TO BEAT PBKS
Needing 29 runs off last over, Punjab fell short by two runs
Sunrisers Hyderabad held their nerve to beat Punjab Kings by two runs in their IPL thriller in Mullanpur on Tuesday.
Chasing 183 for victory, Punjab Kings came close through Shashank Singh (46) and Ashutosh Sharma (33) were unable to cross the line needing 29 runs off the final over as they finished with 180/6 in 20 overs.
Earlier, Young Nitish Reddy showed tremendous character during a vital 37ball 64, which lifted Sunrisers Hyderabad to a challenging 182 for 9.
Left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh (4/29) was the standout bowler for PBKS, but SRH still eventually finished with a total that looked improbable at one stage.
Abdul Samad chipped in with a 12-ball 25 before Jaydev Unadkat ended the SRH innings with a last ball six.
The match got underway on an eventful note as Travis Head (21 off 15 balls) would have been out first ball after a clear edge. But the opener must thank Kagiso Rabada for prolonging his stay in the middle as the South African lead pacer, having opened up Head completely, was not sure if he had indeed induced an edge.
Wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma went up straightaway but Rabada didn't join his colleague loudly enough, as the batter got a reprieve with PBKS refusing to take a review.
Replays showed a clear edge, and it was strange on Rabada's part who was smashed for three successive boundaries by Head for a 16run third over.
Head got a thick edge for a four, got the second boundary through the off-side, and then played one on the rise through mid-on for his third straight four off Rabada.
Despite living a charmed life, Head failed to capitalise, thanks to PBKS skipper Shikhar Dhawan, who ran back and kept his eyes on the ball to complete an excellent catch, which was followed by his trademark thigh-slap celebration.
It was a big breakthrough for PBKS and their captain was delighted, and so was bowler Arshdeep Singh, who was the beneficiary of Dhawan's judgement and athleticism. Two balls later, Aiden Markram was walking back to the dugout for a duck after edging an away going Arshdeep delivery to Jitesh.
Abhishek Sharma, having just hit Sam Curran for a lovely six and a four, fell to the English all-rounder's next ball after coming down the wicket in search of another big one. He mistimed, and Shashank Singh held on to a good catch to leave SRH in a spot of bother at 39/3 in the fifth over.