It was the match between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium (Uppal, Hyderabad) on Monday night which was the opening match for both teams in IPL 2018. In that one-sided game, RR managed to score only 125/9 which was chased easily by SRH in 15.5 overs after losing only their opening batsman Wriddhiman Saha.
SRH decided to field first after winning the toss. RR batsmen failed to provide any fights against the SRH bowlers. Apart from Sanju Samson, no other batsmen even crossed the 20-run mark. Samson scored 49 runs off 42 balls along with 5 fours. The RR batsmen failed to hit at least one six in that innings.
Apart from good bowling, SRH was brilliant in the field. Their fielding was top-class as they didn’t leave any chances. Rashid Khan and Kane Williamson were on top in that list. As a result, RR only managed to put 125 runs (125/9) on the board at the end of 20 overs.
Among the SRH bowlers, Siddharth Kaul (2/17) and Shakib Al Hassan (2/23) claimed two wickets each while Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/30), Billy Stanlake (1/29) and Rashid Khan (1/23) picked up one wicket each.
In reply, SRH opener Shikhar Dhawan performed his trademark attacking batting after Ajinky Rahane dropped a chance at the slip in the very first over of that innings.
Though the SRH opening batsman Wriddhiman Saha was dismissed early for just 5 runs, Dhawan and skipper Kane Williamson were not pressurized during the chasing. They comfortable reached that target in 15.5 overs after losing only one wicket while Dhawan-Williamson’s second-wicket partnership was unbroken for 121 runs. Dhawan was not out on 77 runs (57 balls) while Williamson was unbeaten on 36 runs (35 balls). In his superb innings, Dhawan hit 13 fours and only six.
Among the RR bowlers, only Jaydev Unadkat (1/28) was able to pick a wicket. Otherwise, the RR bowlers hardly looked dangerous against the hosts’ top-order batting.
Even Karni Sena is more aggressive than Rajasthan Royal's batting. #SRHvRR
— SAGAR (@sagarcasm) April 9, 2018
Ajinkya Rahane can bat twice, 2nd time in place of Dhaval Kulkarni#SRHvRR pic.twitter.com/w8QFYWKiRS
— Dr. Gill (@ikpsgill1) April 9, 2018
In an alternative universe Steve Smith and David Warner are having a chat before they walk out for the toss #SRHvRR
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) April 9, 2018
Audience watching #SRHvRR match. pic.twitter.com/N1WFT3BHrT
— Maithun (@Being_Humor) April 9, 2018
Rashid Khan catching skills.#SRHvRR pic.twitter.com/LK9k6MlvI9
— Mr. A 🏏 (@cricdrugs) April 9, 2018
Shikhar Dhawan gives a flying start to SRH. #IPL18 #SRHvRR pic.twitter.com/2c1vAE7ZoQ
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) April 9, 2018
Rajasthan Royals was banned earlier for Match fixing & betting.. It should be banned again.. this time for batting.. #SRHvRR
— Paresh Rawal fn (@Babu_Bhaiyaa) April 9, 2018
Things that are more interesting than Rajasthan's batting :
1. Sajid Khan movies
2. Oats in Breakfast
3. Goa Trip with family#SRHvRR— Bollywood Gandu (@BollywoodGandu) April 9, 2018
I beleeiveee I can flyyyyyyyy…..#SRHvRR pic.twitter.com/BpucEZmJe7
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 9, 2018
Amazing bowling by our #OrangeArmy as we restrict #RR to a mere 125 in the first innings#RR-125/9(20)
End of the 1st Innings#SRHvRR #IPL2018 #OrangeArmy #SRHvsRR— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) April 9, 2018
Me searching for the Key players in Rajesthan Royals Squad😹😹#SRHvRR #vivoperfectfan pic.twitter.com/vV6qWsa2fh
— Ankit Prakash Ching (@arunankit46) April 9, 2018
First win in #IPL2018 for #SRH 😁. Rahane, Thank you for dropping Gabbar at 0 👍. Butterfingers –> Fielding attributes. #SRHvRR
— Kishore Kalaga (@kishorekalaga) April 9, 2018
Congratulations to Shikhar Dhawan on your first half century in this IPL season 2018. Superb performance….@SDhawan25 #SRHvRR pic.twitter.com/ZmooqPBsWf
— eswar rao (@eswar369) April 9, 2018
Absolutely love how Williamson goes about his business and conducts himself on the field. #TrueGentleman #SRHvRR
— Kunal Suthar (@SutharKunal) April 9, 2018
@SunRisers , Perhaps the most balanced team in any season of the IPL!
What a performance!#IPL2018 #IPL11 #SunrisersHyderabad #SRHvRR #CricketMeriJaan
— Akas Panchal (@BeingAmdavadi) April 9, 2018
Kane doing a great job, great captaincy. But i'm missing warner @davidwarner31 😑#SRHvRR
— Krishnaa💫 (@_gulabo_) April 9, 2018
It is desperately one sided match #SRHvsRR #SRHvRR
— Jasvinder Singh (@jas_aug) April 9, 2018
Rahane not only dropped the catch of dhawan also match also #SRHvRR
— m suman (@mallashashaank) April 9, 2018
