Twitter Reactions: Rashid Khan hurts Kolkata Knight Riders with the bat

The first half of the Qualifier 2 of the IPL 2018 has not been short on suprises. The stakes are high in the game as the berth for the finals is up for grabs. On the other hand, the loser is set to crash out of the tournament after this penultimate game of the season. At the half way mark, the Kolkata Knight Riders is the happier camp. However, one cannot rule out the Sunrisers Hyderabad either, as they are a very strong bowling side.

Coming in to the match, both the teams had contrasting fortunes as they set up their date at the Eden Gardens. The Sunrisers Hyderabad, after being thoroughly consistent in the league stages, lost their plot as the business end approached. On the other hand, the Kolkata Knight Riders managed to pull things back in their favor after losing their plot midway through the season.

The ingredients for the Qualifier 2 are of a thrilling contest though. Albeit SRH have posted a total below 180, the SRH camp can still back their chances considering the powerful bowling lineup that they have. Earlier in the game, both teams sprung surprises at the toss. While the Knight Riders decided to play with just 3 overseas players, the Sunrisers made as many as three changes in their lineup. The Orange Army were asked to bat first after the KKR skipper Dinesh Karthik won the toss.

The Sunrisers got off to a decent start in the game with their openers, Shikhar Dhawan and Wriddhiman Saha, adding 56 runs for the firs wicket. The partnership was broken by Kuldeep Yadav who sent Dhawan packing on 34 (24) in the 8th over of the game. In the very same over, he dismissed the big fish, Kane Williamson as well. A couple of overs later, Wriddhiman Saha lost his wicket on 35 (27) in a Piyush Chawla over.

Shakib Al Hasan (28) and Deepak Hooda (19) made handy contributions but that could not stop the innings from losing the grip. The run rate got sluggish and the onus was on Yusuf Pathan and Carlos Brathwaite to provide some final flourish. The two big hitters failed miserably and could not get into the double digits. Towards the end, it was an unbeaten 10-ball 34 from Rashid Khan that turned the fortunes of the game. The Sunrisers Hyderabad finished with 174/7 in their stipulated 20 overs.

Here is how the fans reacted to the Sunrisers Hyderabad innings:

Rashid Khan right now #IPL2018 #SRHvKKR pic.twitter.com/ADyjitMA45

— Shubh AggarWall (@shubh_chintak) May 25, 2018

Forget hindsight, was it really viable for Dinesh Karthik to go with Mavi and Prasidh in the last 2 overs – 24 runs in the last over has shifted balance in @SunRisers favour #KKRvsSRH

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) May 25, 2018

Rashid Khan's bat swing while batting is quicker than his arm swing while bowling. #IPL

— cricBC (@cricBC) May 25, 2018

This is exactly why SRH, in one of their previous games, erred in sending Rashid Khan after Bhuvneshwar. What a player #SRHvKKR #IPL2018

— Arun Venugopal (@scarletrun) May 25, 2018

Chawla should have completed his quota at the death. Don't think all pace was the right way to go #SRHvKKR #IPL2018

— Arun Venugopal (@scarletrun) May 25, 2018

Rashid Khan did to KKR what Dinesh Karthik did to Bangladesh in the Nidahas Trophy final #IPL2018

— Shubh AggarWall (@shubh_chintak) May 25, 2018

Kkr was happy till 17-18 but Rashid khan’s little flourish in the end surely gave momentum to #srh. Really good battle in the second half now #KKRvsSRH @IPL

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 25, 2018

10 ball 34. Whoa. Is there something this Khan from Kabul can’t do??? Match changing knock….but will it be a match-winning one??? #KKRvSRH #IPL

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 25, 2018

It ain’t over till it’s over … #GameOn #KKRvSRH @IPL #Qualifier2. What a good finish from @SunRisers @rashidkhan_19

— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) May 25, 2018

What can’t @rashidkhan_19 do?

Bowl ✅
Field ✅
Bat ✅@StarSportsIndia #VIVOIPL

— Trent Woodhill (@TrentWoodhill) May 25, 2018

This could well be a game changing innings from Rashid Khan…….

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 25, 2018

What a finish Rashid khan 🙏 34 runs with a strike rate of 340. Kudos champ 👏👏 #SRHvKKR #IPL2018Playoffs #IPL2018 #OrangeArmy #orangevoice

— sugar plum (@sugar_p1um) May 25, 2018

Is there anything Rashid khan't do?#SRHvKKR

— Nikhil Naz (@NikhilNaz) May 25, 2018

What a day for @rashidkhan_19 to post his highest score in T20 #cricket; 34 not out off only 10 balls in a do-or-die match for @KKRiders #SRHvKKR #SRH #VIVOIPL

— Arun Gopalakrishnan (@statanalyst) May 25, 2018

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