IPL 2020: Openers shine for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Kings XI Punjab

Sunrisers Hyderabad got the better of Kings XI Punjab in match number 22 of the Indian Premier League 2020 after a superb display from both the batting and bowling depart helped SRH with a comfortable 69 run victory on Thursday. 

Sunrisers Hyderabad had set a target of 202 for Kings XI Punjab to chase thanks to openers David Warner and Jonny Bairstow. Bairstow scored a brilliant 97 and narrowly missed a much needed century. Once again, after the openers departed, SRH middle-order failed to live up to expectations with only Kane Williamson putting some runs on the board. 

While Warner and Bairstow were successful, KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal failed, and so did their middle-order. Nicholas Pooran was the only batsman for KXIP put up a fight, scoring 77 off 37 deliveries. Rashid Khan once again came on top, taking three wickets. 

Youngsters Ravi Bishnoi and Arshdeep Singh were impactful for KXIP taking three and two wickets respectively. Once the SRH openers were out, KXIP exploited their weak middle-order and Williamson’s fiery knock was the only thing that took the score past the 200-mark. Likewise, SRH too exploited KXIP’s middle-order after Mayank Agarwal got run out due to a horrible mix-up.

Both SRH and KXIP have had a difficult start this season with SRH losing three of the first five 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.