Shami, Bishnoi specials end Sunrisers' playoff hopes
Punjab Kings defend 125 to keep their hopes of making the top four alive
Punjab Kings defend 125 to keep their hopes of making the top four alive
Scorer: Chandan Duorah | Commentator: @himanshu_a30
That's it from our coverage today on a double-header Saturday. After a pretty one-sided affair between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals, this one between Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad ends in a thriller. But don't forget to join us for two more games tomorrow! Until then, it is a goodbye from Raghav, Chandan, Sreshth and me, Himanshu!
Holder is the Player of the Match: "Tough loss. Halfway we were in the game. Left a little bit too much in the back end to do. It was good to get a good start [with the ball]. Credit to Suchith, he wasn't playing... [Hit more sixes than others?] That's how the game plays. We were behind the eight ball... I just wanted to give myself a chance and strike well. Obviously, we have five games left and these are important games for us... The fans are always behind us, so got to play for them."
Rahul, the winning captain: "Used to these games. Hope the TRP is up due to Punjab Kings. I'll take the win - nothing else to say. Holder played a phenomenal innings. He picked up two wickets in an over to get me and Mayank. He came and batted really well... There was no pace on the pitch. It was important for our team for Chris and others to get stuck in. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. It gives us the belief that if you put a decent total on the board, the pressure can make the opposition do funny things. Shami got two wickets... Lesson for batsmen would be to not play too many shots and understand it is not a 160-170 wicket. If anyone was set, we could have put 140. I think Harpreet is a brilliant all-round cricketer. He has finished games for us... He is not easy to hit or step under, and is a tall bowler. He is very difficult bowler to get away. Every time I go to him, he says, "Don't worry, I won't give away runs"..."
Substitute fielder Suchith gets the award for the best catch of the match
Time for the presentations
PCN: "Holder will not be adjudged so but Shami is my MoM, 17 dot balls out of 24 bowled is just pure awesome. Just 14 runs out of 4 overs that includes a six." --- Let us wait for that.
Hriyaansh Krish: "Holder has to be the Man Of The Match"
Punjab Kings are now in the fifth place in the points table.
Aqueel : "Its heartbreaking to see SRH struggling and already eliminated..once they were a very strong side.. SRH management needs to really look and back their star players.. Hopefully they will come back strong in next season like CSK did... "
Shafiq: "It nearly gave me a hearth attack but thank God, it ended the way I wanted it to be. I am a big fan of PBKS from Afghanistan! "
Here's Williamson after the defeat: "I think the bowling and fielding did a fantastic job. The surface was a tough one. We were certainly backing ourselves to get close. Brilliant individual effort from Jason Holder. It has been a frustrating season... We need to learn a few lessons from the first half. For us, it was about building a platform... It was quite a challenge. The games come think and fast... The challenge is to pick ourselves up and come back... Every team is a strong team. We know what it takes..."
9.36pm A tense win in the end, as Kings retain hopes of qualifying for the playoffs. Sunrisers are now eliminated from the race though. As Ask Cricinfo testifies, this is the lowest total a team has failed to chase in Sharjah in IPL. Massive effort from Holder in the end - not to forget he got 3 for 19 too - but Sunrisers were never really in the chase after losing Warner and Williamson cheaply. Bishnoi bagged 3 for 24 too, as Kings pocket two crucial points in the end.
Holder looks around to check the field now, with long-off right behind the bowler
James : "Win or lose, this has been a wonderful all round effort by Holder. "
And Mayank keeps chatting until the last moment...
Can Holder strike a six to tie the game? Rahul, Mayank and Shami all have a word for Ellis
Down to single figures now for Sunrisers
10 needed from 2
10 off 4
Shahed: "How often is the 19th over touted as crucial in tight chases and here we have Arshdeep delivering it wonderfully well."
Holder's reach, and ability to play straight, meant he alone conquered a slow surface that was once full of runs
Punjab Kings defend 125 to keep their hopes of making the top four alive
Get your dose of stats, colour and analysis on Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings on ESPNcricinfo's live blog
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