MATCH REPORT
Follow UsLeg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi claimed 3-24 while Mohammad Shami was clinical with 2-14 as Punjab Kings (PBKS) condemned Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to a five-run loss on Saturday at the Sharjah International Stadium on Saturday (September 25).
The defeat ended SRH's chances for a top-four finish as they have now lost eight of their nine matches in Indian Premier League (IPL 2021). Punjab kept their hopes alive as they climbed to fifth place with 8 points from 10 matches.
Chasing 126 on a flat surface, SRH lost opener David Warner for two runs in the first over after he edged Shami to the keeper while skipper Kane Williamson chopped on to his stumps off Shami's third over which was a wicket-maiden. Bishnoi then ran through the middle-order as he dismissed Manish Pandey (13), Kedar Jadhav (12) and Abdul Samad (1) to steepen the chase.
West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder, who earlier claimed 3-19 in the match, launched a late counterattack with an unbeaten 47 off just 29 balls which included five sixes, but was unable to get his team over the line.
SRH needed 21 from the final two overs, but pacer Arshdeep Singh gave away just four runs from the penultimate over. In the final over, Holder hit debutant Nathan Ellis for a six to bring down the equation to 10 runs from 4 balls, but the Australian held his nerve to concede just four more runs.
After being put in to bat by Williamson, Punjab Kings struggled to get going as their in-form openers KL Rahul (21) and Mayank Agarwal (5) departed in the fifth over, courtesy of Holder. Chris Gayle (14) and Aiden Markram put up a 30-run stand for the third wicket but Rashid Khan dismissed Gayle to break PBKS' momentum.
Markram top scored with 27 from 32 balls but was dismissed part-timer Samad in the 15th over. Punjab found late runs from Deepak Hooda (13 from 10 balls) Harpreet Brar (18 not out off 18 balls) and Ellis (12 off 12 balls) which took them to 125/7 in 20 overs.
Punjab will next face defending champions Mumbai Indians on Tuesday, while SRH will face off against Rajasthan Royals on Monday.