SRH and GT managed to win their respective matches.

Ruturaj Gaikwad. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Gujarat Titans (GT) managed to win their IPL group stage matches beating Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) respectively on Sunday. While pacer Umran Malik entertained the fans with his fiery spell in the afternoon match, an excellent batting display from the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ambati Rayudu, David Miller, and Rashid Khan was witnessed by the fans in the evening match.

In the first match, SRH skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to have a field first. PBKS top order fell cheaply, including Shikhar Dhawan (8 runs), Prabhsimran Singh (14 runs), and Jonny Bairstow (12 runs) before batter Liam Livingstone smashed another half-century in this season. He made 60 runs off just 33 balls with five fours and four maximums. Shahrukh Khan also contributed to the team’s total, adding 26 runs off 28 balls.

For SRH, Bhuvneshwar scalped three wickets in his four-over spell. Speedster Umran Malik was also impressive and achieved his career-best figures of 4/28 including bowling the 20th as a maiden over.

Chasing a meek total of 152 runs for victory, Captain Williamson (3 runs) failed to get going as he got dismissed by pacer Kagiso Rabada. Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi played some crucial knocks before Aiden Markram (41 runs) and wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran’s (35 runs) unbeaten knocks ensured that SRH won their fourth match on the trot. Apart from Chahar and Rabada, none of the other PBKS bowlers managed to take a wicket. Pacer Umran Malik was adjudged the Player of the Match for his excellent bowling performance.

GT steal the match from CSK’s grasp

Excellent knocks from Gaikwad (73 runs), Ambati Rayudu (46 runs), and Ravindra Jadeja (22* runs) ensured that CSK finished with a score of 169/5 in their 20 overs. In reply, GT’s top and middle-orders were blown away by tight bowling from CSK bowlers.

However, David Miller (94* runs) and skipper Rashid Khan (40 runs) clinched the match from the hands of the defending champions. The left-handed batter was adjudged the Player of the Match for his excellent batting which included eight fours and six maximums.

SRH, after winning their four matches on the trot, have entered the top four in the points table. Gujarat Titans have claimed the first spot after winning their match against CSK. Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore complete the top four teams in the points table.