PBKS beats SRH by 5 runs

KATHMANDU, September 26: Punjab Kings (PBKS) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Match 37 of the VIVO Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

While PBKS were restricted to a modest total of 125/7, young Ravi Bishnoi and veteran pacer Mohammad Shami played a vital role, helping the team seal a five-run win.

In the chase, SRH lost David Warner and Kane Williamson early as Shami struck in the first and the third over respectively.

Five overs later, Manish Pandey got out as Bishnoi picked his first wicket. While Wriddhiman Saha and Kedar Jadhav added 24 runs together, Bishnoi’s double-wicket over reduced SRH to 60/5.

Holder then walked out to bat and took the attack to PBKS bowlers as he and Saha added a quick 32-run stand before Saha was run-out in the 17th over. Holder continued to put up the fight as SRH moved past hundred.

SRH needed 21 runs in the last 2 overs and Arshdeep Singh bowled a brilliant 19th over, conceding just four runs.

While Holder scored a six in the final over, Nathan Ellis did not allow the all-rounder and Bhuvneshwar any big hits as PBKS sealed a fine win in a low-scoring thriller.

Earlier, an unchanged SRH elected to field against PBKS, who made three changes to their team – bringing in Chris Gayle, Bishnoi and Ellis.

PBKS made a watchful start before Holder’s twin strikes in the fifth over helped SRH see the back of Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul.

Gayle and Aiden Markram then added 30 runs before the left-hander was out LBW off Rashid Khan. Nicholas Pooran was the next man to get out as Sandeep Sharma struck in the 12th over.

While Markram and Deepak Hooda took PBKS closer to the 90-run mark, the South African fell for 27 off Abdul Samad. Hooda departed in the 16th over as substitute J Suchith took a stunning one-handed catch as Holder picked his third wicket.

Harpreet Brar and Ellis though chipped in with some important runs as PBKS posted 125/7 on the board.