Right then, that's a wrap for another exciting and crucial game in the Indian T20 League as Hyderabad secures a vital victory over Rajasthan, handing them their second defeat of the season and making it to the top 4 on the points table. Now, all eyes turn to the next showdown, as Mumbai prepares to host Kolkata at the iconic Wankhade Stadium. The much-anticipated clash is scheduled for Friday, the 3rd of May, kicking off at 7.30 pm IST (2.00 pm GMT). But the excitement starts long before the first ball is bowled, with all the pre-match coverage. So, make sure to tune in early to catch all the action! Until then, it's time to bid farewell with cheers!
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his outstanding spell of 3 for 41. He says he wasn't thinking about anything and just wanted to execute the balls well in the final over. Adds that he was just focused on the over and wasn't thinking of the one fielder who was short outside the circle and was completely detached. Concludes that when the ball swings, he gets the best of it and luckily for him, he got three crucial wickets.
Pat Cummins, the skipper of Hyderabad says that it was an amazing game and weren't sure of the win until the final ball. Adds that in T20 cricket you get used to batters getting you over the line and that last over from Bhuvi was special. Mentions that they tried to take a few wickets in the middle overs and brought Natarajan in to bowl a few yorkers. Reckons that you can't give class players chances with those dropped catches and gives credit to Nitish Kumar Reddy for being a value player as he can hit those sixes and can give them a couple of handy overs with the ball as well.
Its time for the Presentation Ceremony...
Travis Head is down for a quick chat. He says it's a pretty good win that they did not expect in the end but appreciates the team. Adds that they knew it would be challenging but the way Heinrich Klaasen gave them that extra boost was great. Mentions that it was a great score and in T20 cricket it more often than not comes down to the wire. Concludes that the crowd was great and it was nice to put up a show and they have a couple more games and hope to continue.
Sanju Samson, the captain of Rajasthan says that they have played a few close games this season and have been on the winning side but credit should go to the opposition as they managed to keep the scoring rate at exactly 10 runs an over till the very final over. Adds that they have some quality finishers but couldn't get the win and reckons that early on it was tough to bat against the new ball and their bowlers bowled well. Gives credit to Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag for playing so well as he and Jos Buttler got out in the first over and sometimes these things happen and you can't get over the line.
Earlier in the game, the Rajasthan bowlers, led by the ever-reliable Trent Boult, launched a formidable assault, well-supported by Ashwin, successfully stifling the explosive Hyderabad openers and asserting dominance. Their disciplined efforts bore fruit as Rajasthan snatched a couple of crucial wickets, tipping the scales in their favour early on. However, as the game progressed into the middle overs, Rajasthan encountered a lapse in momentum, allowing Travis Head and Nitish Kumar Reddy to seize control with a commanding 96-run partnership orchestrating a remarkable turnaround in favour of Hyderabad. Despite the bowlers' attempts to contain the onslaught, Heinrich Klaasen's blistering knock of 42 off just 19 deliveries, coupled with Nitish Kumar Reddy's unbeaten 76 off 42 balls, propelled Hyderabad beyond the 200-run mark for the fifth time this season setting a target of 202 runs. While Sandeep Sharma emerged as the most economical bowler, claiming a crucial wicket, Avesh Khan contributed with two dismissals for his side.
Hyderabad embarked on a dream start with Bhuvneshwar Kumar dealing two significant blows in the very first over, setting the tone for an electrifying contest. However, despite their early success, Hyderabad encountered a few hiccups in the field, with missed catching opportunities proving to be costly. As momentum shifted, the bowlers allowed the opposition to regroup and establish a formidable partnership, reigniting the pressure on Hyderabad. Yet, displaying resilience, the bowlers managed to disrupt the partnership and tighten their lines, securing crucial wickets that swung the game back in their favour, much to the delight of the roaring crowd. In a nail-biting climax, it was the remarkable efforts of Pat Cummins and Bhuvneshwar Kumar who delivered under immense pressure, defending a mere 20 runs in the final two overs. Their spirited performance not only secured a thrilling victory propelling Hyderabad to the fourth position on the points table but also brought an end to their losing streak, showcasing their determination and fighting spirit till the very end.
What an incredible turnaround! Hyderabad have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, handing the table-toppers their second loss of the tournament. Just when Rajasthan had the game in their bag, the loss of quick wickets towards the end turned things around completely over the head resulting in a loss. After enduring a challenging start with the early departures of Jos Buttler and skipper, Sanju Samson in the very first over, Rajasthan found themselves under immense pressure. However, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag displayed remarkable composure, opting for a counterattacking approach to stabilize the innings. Their resilience was evident as they navigated the early storm, guiding the team to a promising 60/2 at the conclusion of the Powerplay, laying a solid foundation for the chase ahead. The duo continued to excel, forging an impressive partnership of 134 runs, with both batters reaching well-deserved half-centuries before their dismissals within a span of 3 overs. Despite their departures, they had already laid a substantial groundwork for the chase which then went downside as the team lost wickets in a flurry and just had too much to chase in the end losing it by the barest of margin.
In over# 20
0W
2
2
4
2
1
Bhuvneshwar Kumar 41/3(4)
19.6
W
OUT! LBW! Would you believe it? One of the most memorable finishes to a game this season and Hyderabad have won it by the barest of margins. Bhuvneshwar Kumar goes for the in-dipping yorker but misses his mark and serves a full toss instead. The ball does reverse into the right-hander a bit and Rovman Powell plays all around it, getting hit flush on the pads. It looks straight enough and the finger goes up. It is reviewed but there's nothing on UltraEdge and Ball Tracking comes up with three reds. Hyderabad win an absolute humdinger by 1 run!
Is that out? The umpire gives it out LBW and Rovman Powell sends it upstairs for a review. The UltraEdge confirms there was no bat involved and the BallTracking shows all reed. The on-field call stays and Rovman Powell is OUT!
Rajasthan now need 2 runs off 1 ball. Fancy a super over?
19.5
2
NOT OUT! That is some dive put in by Rovman Powell! Very full on leg stump, Powell clips it firmly through square leg and has to go for two runs again. Shahbaz Ahmed fires in a quick throw at the keeper's end and Heinrich Klaasen whips off the bails. The replays show that Powell did make it in time and he dived so hard that his helmet fell off on impact. 2 needed off the final delivery!
Is that run-out? Rovman Powell throws in a full stretched dive and makes it home! What an effort!
19.4
2
A better throw and that would have been gone and once again the throw is at the wrong end. Very full, right at the base of off stump, Rovman Powell drills it wide of long off where Abdul Samad gets to the ball and chooses to go to the far keeper's end but it is well wide and the batters get two more.
19.3
4
FOUR! Calmly done and the one-less boundary rider is making a difference. Pitched up around off, Rovman Powell gets inside the line and just laps it down to fine leg for a boundary. 6 needed now off 3 balls.
19.2
2
Gets the perfect yorker in on middle and leg stump, Rovman Powell jams it out to wide long on and races back for two runs. Marco Jansen throws it to the keeper's end but he should have thrown it to the bowler's end as Ravichandran Ashwin was struggling.
19.1
1
Full and straight at the stumps, Ravichandran Ashwin plays it away wide of long on for a single.