PUNE: Rajasthan Royals (210-6) crushed Sunrisers Hyderabad (149-7) by 61 runs in match 5 of the IPL 2022. Here are major highlights from the match:
No-balls and missed chances: Bhuvneshwar Kumar had Jos Buttler caught at first slip in the first over, but it turned out to be a no-ball. In the fourth over, Abdul Samad gave Buttler another life when he fluffed a catch at the first slip off Umran Malik. The irony is that even if Samad had caught it, Buttler would still have not been out as this was another no-ball.
Buttler rubbed salt into the wounds of Malik as he walloped him for two sixes in the over and plundered 21 runs. He, along with Yashasvi Jaiswal, added 58 runs in 6 overs for the 1st wicket and set the stage for Rajasthan to get a monumental score.
‘Shining’ Samson: Rajasthan skipper Sanju Samson started the IPL 2022 campaign with a bang by reeling off a whirlwind half-century. He looked in sublime touch from the word go and pulled Abhishek Sharma for a straight six. He took a special liking to off-spinner Washington Sundar and smote him for three sixes – a pull over a long-on, slog-sweep over midwicket and a pull over midwicket. Sundar had a nightmarish day with the ball as he conceded 47 runs in 3 overs.
He brought up his fifty in just 25 balls and stitched up a 73-run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal in just 7 overs. Padikkal was watchful for the first few balls but played an array of delightful shots – especially the short-arm jab off T Natarajan for a six – later.
Late assault by Hetmyer: Shimron Hetmyer ran amok in death overs and belted out three massive sixes. He looked to play straight and all his three sixes came in the long-on and long-off regions. Hetmyer also executed a stupendous scoop off Natrajan to demonstrate his range. His late assault propelled Rajasthan to 210 in 20 overs.
‘Pulsating’ Prasidh: Prasidh Krishna sealed the fate of Hyderabad by nipping out Kane Willaimson and Rahul Tripathi in a bustling spell. He generated scorching pace and terrific bounce which were hard to negotiate. However, Williamson was unlucky to be given out by the third umpire. He nicked a ball from Prasidh which almost jumped on him and the wicketkeeper Samson dived to his right to grab a one-handed catch. The ball popped out of his gloves and Paddikal at first slip lunged forward and claimed a catch. The replays were inconclusive but the third umpire ruled Williamson out.
Prasidh’s first spell numbers were 3-1-2-2.
Hyderabad’s decrepit batting line-up: It was evident even before the tournament started that Hyderabad severely lacks depth in their batting. On Tuesday, after Prasidh decimated their top-order, the legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal cut a swathe through their middle-order and snaffled three wickets. Aiden Markram held one end but he didn’t show the intent to score runs quickly even though they were chasing a target of 211.
Sundar, who had a torrid day with the ball, played some rousing and rollicking shots though it was too late by then. But this breezy innings (40 off 14 balls) will do a world of good to his confidence. It will perhaps be a good idea to promote him up the order in the next match.
Hyderabad will really have to fix their batting woes quickly if they want to make a mark in this season of the tournament. Their options and choices, however, are quite limited.