A complete performance from Sunrisers Hyderabad helped them beat Kings XI Punjab by 69 runs on Friday and thereby take the third position in the points table. The highlight of the game remained the stellar partnership between David Warner and Jonny Bairstow for the opening wicket. The duo added 160 runs before the former got out in the 16th over. Jonny Bairstow, unfortunately, fell three runs short of his century, while Warner scored 52 runs off 40 balls, including 5 fours and 1 six.
SRH amassed 160 runs in just 15 overs and at, one stage, were targeting 230-run total. However, Kings XI Punjab made a strong comeback at the fag end of the innings. Sunrisers could only score 41 in the last five and finished at 201 after 20 overs.
In pursuit of the total, Punjab were left in all sorts of trouble as they lost their first three wickets for just 58 in 6.4 overs. Both their in-form players, KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal were back into the hut. Soon, Glenn Maxwell followed as he got run-out after making 7 of 12 balls.
Nicholas Pooran, though, led a strong fightback and smashed SRH bowlers to all parts. He produced the fastest half-century of the season and went onto score 77 runs off just 37 balls. KXIP were hopeful of winning the contest till Pooran was at the crease, however, two wickets from two balls from Rashid Khan in the 15th over ended all that.
Wickets fell in quick succession once Pooran got out and SRH were folded for 132 in the end. With that defeat, Kings XI Punjab have now lost 5 in 6 matches.
