END OF OVER:20 | 9 Runs | SRH: 115/8 | RR: 5.75
- Siddarth Kaul7 (5b)
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar7 (7b)
- Tim Southee4-0-26-2
- Shivam Mavi4-0-29-2
7.34pm That last-ball four will make no difference to the Knight Riders. They need 116 to take one step closer to the playoffs. They had lost the toss, and the Sunrisers had a good opportunity to put up a challenging total against a team that would be more nervous than them. But alas, they crumbled to spin, and that too against a side that is missing Lockie Ferguson and Andre Russell.
The 12 overs of spin from Shakib (playing in the UAE leg first time), Narine and Varun Chakravarthy went at an economy of 4.33. Mavi would get a confidence boost with his two wickets and Southee's 2/26 was very crucial - giving confidence to the KKR management that he can be a formidable overseas seamer if Ferguson isn't available.
Not much to say about the Sunrisers. Their struggle continues, and if it wasn't for some lusty Samad blows, their bowlers may have been defending a double-digit target. Be back soon with the case, a great opportunity for Knight Riders' net run rate to get even better. But they would be careful not to count their chickens before they hatch.
Southee: "The pitch is a bit on the slow side. We had quality spinners that strangled them. It is nice to be part of this tournament. I've been here for a while. Was able to keep ticking over here since I've been here for a while. Hopefully our batters can get off to a good start. They are aggressive batters. But it is a tough wicket to get going."
Reza: "Time to push Morgan up the order today. KKR desperately need him to be back in form before going to the playoffs. Today is the chance for him to spend some time time in the middle without worrying much about the strike rate. "
END OF OVER:19 | 7 Runs 1 Wkt | SRH: 106/8 | RR: 5.57
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar4 (4b)
- Siddarth Kaul1 (2b)
- Shivam Mavi4-0-29-2
- Tim Southee3-0-17-2
Rashid Khan c Iyer b Shivam Mavi 8 (11m 6b 1x4 0x6) SR: 133.33
END OF OVER:18 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | SRH: 99/7 | RR: 5.50
- Rashid Khan4 (4b)
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar2 (2b)
- Tim Southee3-0-17-2
- Varun Chakravarthy4-0-26-2
Shubham: "Samad seems to have a knack of hitting the best of opposition bowlers for sixes. He has done it to the like of Bumrah and Boult as well. Great potential !"
Abdul Samad c Shubman Gill b Southee 25 (30m 18b 0x4 3x6) SR: 138.88
David Warner is in the ground today. But not sitting in the team dugout - he is in the Sunrisers box in the stands.
END OF OVER:17 | 14 Runs 1 Wkt | SRH: 94/6 | RR: 5.52
- Abdul Samad25 (17b)
- Rashid Khan1 (1b)
- Varun Chakravarthy4-0-26-2
- Sunil Narine4-0-12-0
Rohit: "Similar to what someone pointed out in the evening match today that international captains will be glad chahal is not in the squad, I think same applies to Narine. He has just been absolutely brilliant along with Chakravarthy."
