KKR defeated SRH by 10 runs in the third match of the Vivo IPL 2021 which was held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. Earlier SRH had won the toss and elected to field first. Shubhman Gill and Nitish started the innings for KKR with both managing to put up a half-century stand inside the first seven overs. They both put on 53 runs for the first wicket in seven overs.
Rashid Khan got the first breakthrough for SRH when he clean bowled Shubman Gill cheaply in the last ball of the seventh over. Then Rahul Tripathi came to strike and hit a whirlwind fifty and added 93 runs for the second wicket with Nitish Rana. Tripathi then was caught behind at delivery of Natarajan in the 16th over. KKR then suffered a mid-innings collapse and lost the wickets of Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, and Eoin Morgan in space of three balls.
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In the end, Dinesh Karthik played a blinder inning of 22 runs off just nine deliveries which helped KKR post a competitive total of 187 runs.
In the second half, SRH began their chase on a disappointing note as they lost both their openers at the score of ten in just 2.1 overs. After that Johnny Bairstow and Manish Pandey took forward the chase as they lit up the game with some fine strokeplay. They both added 92 runs for the third wicket and took SRH in a commanding position in chasing the game. Both batsmen scored half-century before getting dismissed. Pat Cummins was involved in breaking their partnership.
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Sunrisers team then faltered in the end and were seen short of the target by ten runs in the end. Prasidh Krishna was the start with the ball for KKR as he scalped two wickets during the SRH innings. Nitish Rana was adjudged the man of the man for his whirlwind knock of 80 runs of just 56 deliveries.
Hits
Nitish Rana
Nitish Rana looked in great touch after he was sent as an opener with Shubhman Gill. His innings of 80 runs proved to be the difference in the end between both sides. He was involved in crucial partnerships first with Shubman for the opening wicket and then with Rahul Tripathi for the Second wicket.
Rahul Tripathi
Rahul Tripathi played a sublime knock of 53 runs off just 29 deliveries. His innings kept the momentum for KKR going even after losing the wicket of Shubman Gill. His batting position at number three might do more wonders for KKR in coming games.
Manish Pandey
Manish Pandey started his IPL campaign this year on a very good note. He scored 61 runs off just 44 deliveries. Him having started positively in this year’s edition is great news for SRH as Pandey has always been a vital cog of this side since his addition to this team.
Flops
Andre Russell
Andre Russell had a disappointing start to his IPL campaign this year as he got out cheaply during the KKR innings. He scored just five runs and looked off-color during bowling also. Russell must come back to form as soon as possible to give more high post to KKR’s fortune in this year’s edition of IPL.
David Warner
David Warner started his journey in this year’s edition of IPL on a sorry note as he got out cheaply during SRH’s chase of 188 runs. He scored just three runs before giving his wicket away to Prasidh Krishna. Warner’s return to form is all SRH needs to get their campaign back on track.
