The fifth week of the IPL 2018 was all about the teams pushing their cases for qualifying for the playoffs. The race of playoffs was hotter than ever with so many teams jammed up at around similar position on the points table. Delhi became the first team to be knocked out of the race and Sunrisers Hyderabad qualified for the playoffs. Mumbai was resurgent and is now knocking at the playoffs door.
The team that became the first team to qualify for the playoffs this week was Sunrisers Hyderabad. By defeating Delhi in Delhi yesterday, they completed nine wins in the eleven matches played so far. Previously, they were winning matches on the might of their bowling but now they have displayed their batting power as well. Sunrisers Hyderabad is our team of the week.
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Match Details
Playing at the home ground on 5th May, SRH faced a youthful Delhi Daredevils team. With a brilliant knock from the 18-year old Prithvi Shaw, Delhi cruised to a score of 95 in just first 10 overs. After Shaw’s departure, Delhi’s pace fell away and they ended with a fighting total of 163. With Hales and Dhawan firing, SRH chased it with 7 wickets in hand.
SRH then hosted Royal Challengers Bangalore, who were desperately seeking a win to keep their campaign alive. RCB won the toss and chose to chase against one of the finest bowling attacks, a decision that cost them dearly. SRH batted first and scrambled to 146 only. Their bowling nipped out RCB batting early and eventually won by 5 runs.
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Coming back to the last night, where SRH faced DD at Delhi, another team who needed to win to keep their campaign alive. After a sluggish start, Rishabh Pant switches himself in a carnage mode and slammed 128*. SRH had a tall task of chasing 188 but it was Kane Williamson and Shikhar Dhawan who kept the winning streak alive.
What Worked Well
The strongest aspect of the Sunrisers Hyderabad is definitely their bowling. They have India’s most skilled paceman in last few years, Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Siddarth Kaul with his experience of bowling on the Indian pitches is deadly in the IPL. Batsmen are yet to figure out Rashid Khan and he keeps beating them. Shakib Al Hasan and Sandeep Sharma have taken wickets at crucial times.
Their batting has supported the bowling well and has risen up to complement the bowlers. Kane Williamson and Shikhar Dhawan have been consistent. Alex Hales has sorted the opening problems and the middle-order has been steady.
Where from here on
Sunrisers Hyderabad has already secured their place in the playoffs and one more win will secure their first/second place in the table as well. They have two tough matches ahead as they will next take on CSK at Pune. SRH will then face KXIP at Indore and then finish the league stage against KKR at Hyderabad.
