Jonny Bairstow, Rashid Khan star in SunRisers Hyderabad’s win over Kings XI Punjab

In match 22 of the Indian Premier League 2020 on Thursday, SunRisers Hyderabad won the match against Kings XI Punjab by 69 runs and Jonny Bairstow shone with the bat with a 97-run knock.

SRH set a target of 202 for the Kings to chase, thanks to openers David Warner and Jonny Bairstow. The latter scored a brilliant 97 and narrowly missed a much needed century.

The England wicketkeeper-batsman hit seven fours and six sixes during his 55-ball knock, while Warner scored 52 off 40 balls to set up SRH’s third win in six matches. 

However, after the openers departed, the middle-order failed to live up to expectations with only Kane Williamson putting some runs on the board. 

Also read: ‘Batsmen let the bowlers down’: Skipper MS Dhoni on CSK’ defeat against KKR

Rashid Khan was the most impressive SRH bowler as he returned with figures of 3/12 from his four overs.

From KXIP,  KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal failed, and so did their middle-order. Nicholas Pooran was the only batsman for the team who put up a fight, scoring 77 off 37 deliveries. 

Both SRH and KXIP have had a difficult start this season with SRH losing three of the six games and KXIP losing four. Both the teams have had a solid opening duo playing with fine forms but the middle-orders woes have haunted them throughout the tournament and continued today.

The addition of Kane Williamson has certainly put some pressure off the SRH openers. Even today, he was the only player to put some quick runs on the board apart from the opening duo.