Twitter Reactions: KL Rahul keeps his calm to take KXIP home in the last over thriller
Agarwal also batted well but should've finished the game to avoid the close finish.
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The Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) have managed to get past the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Mohali to continue their winning run at the venue. KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal were the architects of a perfect chase. But the bowlers set up the game for them sensationally early on by restricting the opposition to a below-par total. Meanwhile, the SRH are suddenly looking shaky with two back-to-back losses.
Chris Gayle was snaffled by Rashid Khan in the fourth over itself and one felt that the game will go deep at that stage. But Rahul and Agarwal’s partnership kept the KXIP ahead with a 114-run partnership. Both of them played calculative strokes and got to their respective half-centuries. But the latter’s wicket in the 18th over turned things dramatically.
The death bowling was back at its best for the SRH. From 20 runs needed of the same number of deliveries, the equation came down to 11 off the final over which Mohammad Nabi had to bowl. KL Rahul had failed to take the team through against the CSK only in the previous game and he was once again at the helm with all pressure on him. However, the champion batsman got a timely boundary for his team with six runs needing off three balls.
Then David Warner mis-fielded under pressure as the KXIP got to the target with only 1 ball to spare. Actually, the match shouldn’t have gone to the last over but the Punjab side has made it a habit it seems.
Warner takes SRH to a competitive score
Scoring was tough in the first innings and Jonny Bairstow‘s early wicket didn’t help SRH’s cause. Mujeeb Ur Rahman scalped him and since then the visitors only struggled for runs. There was a decent partnership between David Warner and Vijay Shankar and they should be credited for not throwing their wickets away after taking time to get in.
The duo added 49 runs for the second wicket and Ravi Ashwin snaffled Vijay Shankar just when he was looking dangerous. The wicket pegged them back again as Warner was looking rusty in the middle. Manish Pandey also crawled his way 19 while Mohammad Nabi’s promotion didn’t work either. However, the Australian opener upped the ante at the right time for the team and remained unbeaten on 70 off 62 deliveries.
The innings resembled Steve Smith‘s knock the other day for the Rajasthan Royals against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). However, the SRH were massively boosted by the last three deliveries of the innings as Deepak Hooda got stuck into Mohammad Shami to eke out 14 runs which led the team to 150 runs for the loss of four wickets after 20 overs. But it wasn’t enough eventually as the batting got much easier with dew taking more effect.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
How often have two opposing openers batted through an IPL innings? Warner, and KL Rahul more especially have shown the value even in this format sometimes of someone batting deep in the innings. Well played @lionsdenkxip . K L for that No4 slot for World Cup?
— ian bishop (@irbishi) April 8, 2019
Smith yesterday. Warner today. Batted through the innings but the team ended up 20-30 short. #KXIPvSRH #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 8, 2019
Seventh consecutive victory for the home side KXIP at Mohali since 2017. Their best winning sequence at any venue.#IPL2019#KXIPvSRH#IPL
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) April 8, 2019
Warner mistakes, Punjab win.
Story of the day
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 8, 2019
Warner’s misfield to give Pinjab a win sums up poor night’s cricket by SRH. Barring few wickets falling before close, Punjab always in control. Hyderabad were 20-25 runs short. The bowlers made up for it to an extent, but a dropped catch and some sloppy fielding put paid to hopes
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 8, 2019
So basically all you need to do is watch the last 15 minutes of an IPL game #KXIPvSRH
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) April 8, 2019
The @lionsdenkxip are elated and how. What a victory this for the home team 🙌🙌#KXIPvSRH pic.twitter.com/tQ6JSTxSkO
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 8, 2019
Smallest victories for KXIP in IPL – by balls remaining:
0 v KKR, Port Elizabeth, 2009
0 v Chargers, Mohali, 2012
1 v Chargers, Kimberley, 2009
1 v Warriors, Mohali, 2013
1 v SRH, Mohali, 2019*#KXIPvSRH— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) April 8, 2019
What brilliant thinking from Rahul. Knew it would be fired in at yorker-length, and a jab straight down the ground.#IPL2019 #KXIPvSRH
— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) April 8, 2019
At the end of the day…. I guess dew is the real winner? #KXIPvSRH #IPL2019
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) April 8, 2019
big win for Kings XI Bangalore #KXIPvSRH
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) April 8, 2019
This is KXIP’s seventh consecutive win at Mohali in IPL.#KXIPvSRH
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) April 8, 2019
KL RAHUL, naam na suna ho toh yaad rakh lo! ❤️❤️❤️#SaddaPunjab #KXIPvSRH #KXIP #VIVOIPL @klrahul11 pic.twitter.com/ls8XpMvXnU
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) April 8, 2019
Last over was a piece of cake for KL Rahul. Now for the man of the match chat#KXIPvSRH
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) April 8, 2019
Top, top innings by KL Rahul. Some tempo issues apart, has looked in good touch for the most part of this tournament. #IPL2019
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) April 8, 2019
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