Bad weather hits Garden City after KKR restrict Sunrisers Hyderabad to 128-7
Sunrisers Hyderabad's David Warner en route his 35-ball 37 vs Kolkata Knight Riders yesterday. Pic/PTI
Kolkata Knight Riders did everything right with the ball in the Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad here last night but then the weather wasn't in their control. Thus, despite restricting a strong SRH batting line-up to 128 for 7 in their 20 overs, KKR, at the time of going to press, found themselves in a tricky situation.
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The heavens opened up over the Chinnaswamy Stadium during the final over of the SRH innings and should the rains not relent and allow KKR to begin their chase, it will be SRH who will have a second chance to enter the final, a reward for being placed ahead of KKR in the Points Table at the end of the League Stage.
Before the rains took over, the runs had dried up. Somehow, save for an over here and one there, the SRH innings never took off.
You can put it down to a combination of highly disciplined bowling and a rather conservative approach on the part of the SRH batsmen.
KKR players celebrate the fall of a Sunrisers Hyderabad wicket at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore yesterday. Pic/AFP
No one, not even David Warner, seemed to be in a mood to take charge, influenced in part by a somewhat sluggish pitch but also perhaps by what had taken place in RCB's home games this season. Gautam Gambhir wasn't going to let go of the opportunity and he promptly responded to the situation by employing a slip, gully and of course himself at silly point, that too against Yuvraj Singh.
It wasn't spin that started SRH's slide though.
It was once again that man Umesh Yadav, the most improved quick bowler in the Indian set-up, who set things up for his side.
Bowling quick and straight, he didn't allow either Warner or Shikhar Dhawan to get away. Trent Boult, in for Chris Waokes who left for England duty, too played his part. Denied a quick start, Warner (37, 35 balls, 2x4, 2x6) and Kane Williamson (24 off 22 balls) got into a consolidation mode, perhaps in the hope that someone would take charge later on and lead the charge.
For a brief while Yuvraj and Vijay Shankar threatened to do so but KKR possessed too many options and Gambhir used them all as is his wont, to keep SRH in check.
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