Twitter Reactions: Sanju Samson and David Warner light up Hyderabad as the Sunrisers pip Royals in the run-fest

It was carnage at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Almost 400 runs were scored in the game between the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). While Sanju Samson scored a classy century for the Royals, it was batsmanship with top authority from David Warner and Vijay Shankar who helped the home team to seal a steep chase easily in the end.

The mammoth chase of 199 runs began with David Warner ripping apart the opposition bowlers with disdain in the powerplay overs itself. He literally looked unstoppable even as Warner’s partner Jonny Bairstow enjoyed all the action standing at the other end. Within a blink of an eye, the Australian reached the fifty. Maybe he was celebrating the end of his 12-month ban from cricket.

Bairstow also enjoyed his stay on a flat deck as the opening partnership raced past the 100-run inside the first 10 overs. Ben Stokes’ well targetted short delivery brought about Warner’s end who was looking dangerous on 69 with nine fours and a couple of sixes. Bairstow also followed him soon on 45 which brought the Royals back in the game. But the required run-rate was well within control for the home side.

Vijay Shankar and Kane Williamson were new at the crease but they didn’t make much fuss about it. The former’s confidence has increased a lot after playing for India and it showed in his amazing hitting. But there was a collapse as Shreyas Gopal got the key wickets of Shankar and Manish Pandey off consecutive deliveries even as Jaydev Unadkat snaffled Williamson.

However, the required run-rate was always under control and Yusuf Pathan and Rashid Khan finished the game with one over to spare. It was the latter who did it in style with a helicopter shot off Jofra Archer.

Samson century propels Royals

Earlier in the day, it was the duo of Sanju Samson and Ajinkya Rahane which did most of the run-scoring for the Royals after they opted to bat first. Jos Buttler was caught in the trap. Rashid Khan was introduced early in the powerplay to get him and the Afghan spinner castled him in the second delivery of his first over. But then the rebuilding phase started between Rahane and Samson.

The Royals skipper was the aggressor on the day as he played some classic textbook shots to reach the 50-run mark off just 35 deliveries. Samson also got going after the halfway mark as both the players took full toll of some poor and clueless bowling from the Sunrisers. It was surprising to see their bowling attack go for runs. But such was the quality of batting at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium.

The duo added 119 runs for the second wicket as Shahbaz Nadeem got better of Rahane but not before he scored 70 runs off just 49 deliveries. The score was 134 then in the 16th over and this is where Samson started to put an exhibition of some exquisite stroke-play. He just tore apart one of the best bowlers of the opposition, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who conceded 44 runs in his last two overs.

Even Sandeep Sharma went for plenty of runs as the Royals added 76 runs in the last five overs. Samson smashed the first century of the season to leave the home crowd stunned though the jam-packed crowd applauded his efforts and gave him a standing ovation. He remained unbeaten on 102 off just 55 balls and his knock was laced with 10 classic boundaries and four elegant sixes.

Ben Stokes also made his presence felt in the last over as the Royals ended the innings on 198 runs for the loss of just two wickets after 20 overs. However, all the efforts went in vain as the Sunrisers Hyderabad cantered to victory in the end on a flat deck.

Here’s how Twitter reacted during the high-scoring encounter:

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