Hyderabad: Hosts Sunrisers Hyderabad registered a comfortable nine-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals on Monday here as they opened their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign in style.
The hosts were dominant right from the start, with all their bowlers playing a crucial role in restricting RR to 125-9.
In reply, SRH lost Wriddhiman Saha early, as Jaydev Unadkat got the early breakthrough. However, the Men in Orange turned the tables around, as Shikhar Dhawan (77) and captain Kane Williamson (36) put up a 121-run partnership to romp home with the game.
Dhawan had one more reason to celebrate the win, as he got to his 29th IPL half-century quite comfortably.
While SRH host defending Champions Mumbai Indians on April 12, RR will lock horns with Delhi Daredevils in their first home game of the season on April 11.
SRH 83-1 from 9.1 overs
FIFTY! Shikhar Dhawan gets to his 29th IPL fifty as the hosts race towards the finish line. What an innings this has been by the Indian cricketer.
SRH 6-1 from 1.3 overs
WICKET! Wriddhiman Saha departs early as hosts lose an early wicket in the run chase.
RR innings
Hosts Sunrisers Hyderabad restricted Rajasthan Royals to 125-9 as both the teams opened their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaigns here on Monday.
Siddarth Kaul and Shakib al Hasan were the stars for the hosts, with both picking up two wickets each.
For RR, Sanju Samson was the key player, but just fell for 49 runs.
Later on, Rashid Khan joined the party, as he removed Jos Buttler for six runs.
However, worries just increased for the visitors as they lost Shreyas Gopal and Jaydev Unadkat in quick succession.
If RR are to bounce back and win this, the key will be on pacers Ben Stokes, Dhawal Kulkarni and Jaydev Unadkat.
RR 123-9 from 19.2 overs
WICKET! Unadkat departs for just one run, as he is dismissed via run-out.
RR 122-8 from 19 overs
WICKET! RR lose another one as Shreyas Gopal departs
RR 115-7 from 17.2 overs
WICKET! Rashid Khan gets his first wicket as he sees off Jos Buttler. Nothing is going right for the visitors.
RR 96-6 from 14.4 overs
WICKET! Siddarth Kaul gets another wicket as he removes Krishnappa Gowtham. RR are beginning to tumble now.
RR 94-5 from 13.5 overs
WICKET! SRH have finally got the main man Sanju Samson, who departs for 49. This is a huge blow for the visitors.
RR 92-4 from 13.2 overs
WICKET! Rahul Tripathi departs as Shakib al Hasan strikes for SRH.
RR 63-3 from 9 overs
WICKET! SRH have just got another wicket in the form of Ben Stokes just before the strategic time-out as Williamson takes a spectacular catch. This is top-class cricket from the hosts.
RR 52-2 from 6.5 overs
WICKET! What a fantastic catch by Rashid Khan at deep mid-wicket to see of captain Ajinkya Rahane. Bowler Siddarth Kaul is ecstatic after getting the wicket.
RR 6-1 from 1 over
WICKET! Captain Williamson does the trick for hosts as he smartly runs out Australia’s D’ Arcy Short. The square leg umpire went for a referral, but Williamson looked confident even before that.
Toss update
Sunrisers Hyderabad have won the toss and will bowl first.