IPL Live Match 28 RR vs SRH: Kane Williamson and Yusuf Pathan.
Rajasthan Royals' desire to move up the pecking order got a boost following an incredible win a week ago, and the mid-table team would look to keep the momentum going in its IPL game against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The Royals are aware of the challenges facing them at the Sawai Mansingh Stadum, a few days after Sunrisers Hyderabad got the better of Kings XI Punjab to grab the second position in the standings.
While SRH have won five out of their seven games so far, Rajasthan Royals are placed fifth with three victories and as many losses. Rajasthan were on their way to suffer back-to-back defeats before a superb cameo from all-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham helped them stun Mumbai Indians by three wickets last Sunday.
The hosts are looking forward to skipper Ajinkya Rahane to lead them by example, and the India Test vice-captain must be eager to live up to the expectations.
With his explosive hitting, the immensely talented Sanju Samson is turning out to be RR's batting mainstay, and another big one could be in the offing.
Samson is high on confidence having played a few significant knocks so far in the cash-rich league.
The English duo of Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler add muscle to Rajasthan's batting, and they are always keen to have a good hit in the middle.
Rajasthan's bowling department is shouldered by medium pacers Dhawal Kulkarni, Jaydev Unadkat Ben Laughlin and Krishnappa Gowtham, who bowls off-breaks.
It may be an way game for them but Sunrisers Hyderabad will still fancy their chances.
Despite losing their skipper David Warner as a result of the one-year ban imposed on the Australian run-machine due to ball tampering, Sunrisers Hyderabad showed tremendous fighting abilities and the very impressive win ratio is proof of that.
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Kane Williamson, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shikhar Dhawan, Shakib Al Hasan, Manish Pandey, Carlos Brathwaite, Yusuf Pathan, Wriddhiman Saha, Rashid Khan, Ricky Bhui, Deepak Hooda, Siddarth Kaul, T Natarajan, Mohammad Nabi, Basil Thampi, K Khaleel Ahmed, Sandeep Sharma, Sachin Baby, Chris Jordan, Billy Stanlake, Tanmay Agarwal, Shreevats Goswami, Bipul Sharma, Mehdi Hasan, Alex Hale.
Rajasthan Royals: Ajinkya Rahane, Ankit Sharma, Anureet Singh, Jofra Archer, Stuart Binny, Aryaman Birla, Jos Buttler, Dushmantha Chameera, Prashant Chopra, Shreyas Gopal, Krishnappa Gowtham, Heinrich Klaasen, Dhawal Kulkarni, Ben Laughlin, Mahipal Lomror, Sudhesan Midhun, Sanju Samson, Jatin Saxena, D'Arcy Short, Ish Sodhi, Ben Stokes, Rahul Tripathi, Jaydev Unadkat.
IPL 2018, RR vs SRH, Match 28: Ajinkya Rahane remained unbeaten on 65 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. (BCCI Photo)
Single on the last ball by Jofra Archer and Sunrisers Hyderabad once again defend a relatively small total to win by 11 runs. SRH are making a habit of this, aren't they? In the jazz of big hitting sides and explosive batsmen, SRH have focused on the bowling and things have worked out well for them.
K Gowtham departs for 8 runs from 5 balls. Another smart ball from Basil Thampi, another low delivery by the time it gets to the right hander and this one is comfortable height for Dhawan to take it and celebrate in his typical fashion.
Another full delivery converted into a low full toss. It was an off cutter, Gowtham sends it down the ground. Another display of good fielding by SRH. Two fielders run to defend it, one misses but the other stays on track to stop it with the foot. 2 runs completed.
Low full toss for Rahane to navigate but only ends up hitting it straight back to Thampi. Basil gets a hand to it but it continues to go down the ground. Single completed. 15 needed from 3 balls
Second ball of the over is full and into the block hole for Gowtham. Only ends up hitting it to the fielder inside the circle. Take a single in the process
RR need 21 runs from 6 balls. Basil Thampi has the ball. He went for 17 runs in his only over today. K Gowtham on the strike and he somehow gets the bat to it and it runs away to the boundary for a four.
Ajinkya Rahane moves to the off side and slashes it wide but what looked like a four has been saved well by Shakib on the boundary. Pushes it back into the field off his foot. Key runs being saved here. Kaul follows it up with a smart slower delivery that stays low. RR now need 21 runs from 6 balls. Surely not?
Mahipal Lomror departs for 11 runs from 12 balls. Tries to go for a slog but only edges it behind to be taken by Wriddhiman Saha behind the stumps. Will this be the end to RR's push to chase down the target?
Two overs to go and RR need 27 runs. Siddharth Kaul has the ball. WHAT FIELDING FROM PANDEY! Slower one from Kaul and Lomror launches into it. Headed for a six? Taken at the boundary? Pandey was moving back and doesn't hold on but does remarkably well to push the ball back for a double only. Crucial four runs saved!
Rajasthan Royals need 36 runs from 18 balls. Ajinkya Rahane is on 53 from 45 balls and Mahipal Lomror is at the other end. Rashid Khan takes the ball. WHAT A START! SIX! Goes down on one knee and thunders it into the stands for a roaring six. Crowd approves!
Rashid Khan gets rid off dangerous Jos Buttler who tries to take the aerial route but only manages to give a a catch to Shikhar Dhawan at long off. Rajasthan Royals are 96/4 after 14
Ben Stokes departs for a duck from 3 balls. Yusuf Pathan gets the wicket. Sneaks in as Stokes tried to pull and it almost surprises Pathan as well. Cramped for room as the ball kept coming in and it takes away his leg stump. RR are 73/3
Sanju Samson departs after scoring 40 runs from 30 balls. Siddharth Kaul breaks the stand and Alex Hales takes the catch. Knuckle ball by Kaul and Samson miscues it straight to Hales at mid-wicket for a simple catch.
Ajinkya Rahane brings up the 50-partnership with Sanju Samson for the second wicket in the 9th over. Rahane stands stall to Shakib Al Hasan, finds the gap and divides the field
At the end of the power play overs, RR are 43/1 after 6 overs. Samson on 27 from 18 balls, Rahane on 12 from 13 balls.
Hello Basil Thampi into the attack says Sanju Samson! On a good length outside off, Samson stood tall and punches it while on the backfoot. Blazed through the covers. Next delivery is plundered away for a six. Short by Thampi and Samsno swivels to send it into the stands for a six! Fourth delivery of the over is spanked away for a four. Connects well on the pull and it has raced away to the boundary. No chance for the fielder on the rope. 17 runs from the over
Rahul Tripathi walks back for 4 runs from 5 balls. Odd choice of shot and Tripathi has to take the walk back to the dugout. Came down the track to Sandeep Sharma but is beaten by pace. Good length around middle and it stayed a touch low. Pre-meditated dart down the wicket and he's bowled. RR 13/1
Ajinkya Rahane and Rahul Tripathi open for Rajasthan Royals in chase of 152 runs. Sandeep Sharma to open the bowling for SRH. Boundary in the first over with Rahane opening his account
Ish Sodhi: "The wicket is a little bit low. We thought it would be slow in the first innings and get better as the game goes on. 150 is a bit under-par, but it would be difficult for us to chase. And that's what it looks like is happening. At 38-degrees, this is surely one of the hottest places I have played cricket in. It is always nice to get him (Williamson) out at that stage, he was hitting the balll cleanly and could have made us pay in the latter stages of the innings."
Sunrisers Hyderabad finish on 151/7 with a single on the last ball. Exceptional bowling at the death from RR. Jofra Archer the architect of SRH's fall with three wickets and stopping the flow of runs as well. Kane Williamson and Alex Hales' wickets in quick succession and SRH lost way after that
Rashid Khan departs for 1 run from 3 balls. Jofra Archer bags his third wicket. Archer sends this one a touch shorter and it rises into Rashid who gets a half-pull to it. Skies it towards deep mid-wicket for a simple catch for RR.
Jofra Archer to bowl the final over. Starts off by conceding four runs. Easy runs for Saha on a full length delivery. Three singles after that and 150-up for SRH
Manish Pandey departs for 16 runs from 15 balls as Jaydev Unadkat strikes. SRH losing their way since that Williamson-Hales stand drew to a close. Good bowling from RR as well to execute plans well. This is a slower one from Unadkat, big heave from Pandey and it takes the top edge, comfortable catch for Rahane at backward point
Yusuf Pathan walks back for 2 run from 3 balls and Jofra Archer strikes once again. This has been bounced up by Archer, outside the off stump, has the width to wack it away for a boundary at least and it would have been the case but for Kulkarni at third man. Comfortable take for him in the end. Terrific death bowling from the seamer to stop SRH
Shakib Al Hasan departs for 6 runs from 6 balls. Shake of the head from Shakib as he walks back. Shake of the head for Williamson too. Jofra Archer strikes with a gorgeous yorker. It was on off stump and Shakib could see it coming but beaten by the sheer pace of that ball. Got bat to that but it darts in still. Lovely delivery!
That's two wickets in two overs as Ish Sodhi picks up his maiden IPL wicket and a crucial one. Williamson departs after an unsuccessful review as SRH are 116/3 in 14.5 overs.
Hales departs without a half-century as he is caught by Samson. Krishnappa Gowtham breaks the 92-run stand between Hales and Williamson as Hales departs for 45. Manish Pandey comes in at No.4 SRH 109/2 in 13.3 overs
Kane Williamson comes up with 50 off 32 balls to pull his side into strong position as SRH are 107/1 after 13 overs
Jayadev Unadkat comes back into attack after 11 overs as Hales ends the over with a four. Both Hales and Williamson are coming close to their half-centuries as they push their campaign forward.
Sunrisers Hyderabad reach the half-way mark as the scoreline stands 70/1. They lose one crucial wicket of Shikhar Dhawan early in the game but Alex Hales and captain Kane Williamson rebuild. SRH 70/1 after 10 overs
First strategic time-out of the match and SRH are 63/1 after 9 overs at this stage. Williamson on 27 and Hales on 30.
Ben Stokes with a superb effort to almost take the catch to dismiss Alex Hales. It is hit flat and Stokes runs across, moves forward and gets both of his hands to it. But it wobbles out of his hand as the elbow touches the ground. Immediately signals that he's not taken it. Great bit of fairplay and sportsman spirit on display
Fifty comes up for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the eighth over. And they get there with a four. Hales with a boundary to long off and SRH bring up the milestone
Ish Sodhi begins his IPL journey with a slip on hand and by bowling to his New Zealand captain Kane Williamson. Concedes nine runs and SRH move to 48/1 after 7 overs.
At the end of the powerplay overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad are 39/1. Jaydev Unadkat concedes six runs in the sixth over
Williamson edges it and Tripathi drops an absolute sitter! NOOOO! Back of a length from Jofra Archer, shot to Williamson and the half-hearted poke goes straight to Tripathi who lets it go from his grasp. Tripathi had dropped Watson earlier in the season and the CSK batsman scored a ton. How many will Kane get?
Shikhar Dhawan departs for just 6 runs from 4 balls and K Gowtham strikes. Poor shot from Dhawan here. Looked to have a pre-meditated sweep but it was bowled outside off stump, misjduged the length and it skidded off the surface. The attempted jab only results in an inside edge back on to the stumps. SRH are 17/1
After an economic start, Dhawal Kulkarni goes for 14 runs in the second over. Two boundaries from Hales and one from Dhawan and SRH are off to the desired start
Sunrisers Hyderabad open with Shikhar Dhawan and Alex Hales. K Gowtham is the bowler. Searing heat in Jaipur and with uncovered stands, the number of spectators has dropped too. Just three runs from the first over with 3 dot balls
This is Match 28 in the IPL and it is only the third time that a captain has chosen to bat first after winning toss. Ashwin had done so for KXIP against SRH, Rohit Sharma had done for Mumbai Indians against Rajasthan Royals and now Williamson for SRH against RR again. KXIP had won while MI lost. What will SRH's fate be today?
New Zealand spinner Ish Sodhi presented with the cap. He makes his IPL debut today
Rajasthan Royals XI: Ajinkya Rahane(c), Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler(w), Krishnappa Gowtham, Jofra Archer, Mahipal Lomror, Jaydev Unadkat, Dhawal Kulkarni, Ish Sodhi
Sunrisers Hyderabad XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Alex Hales, Kane Williamson(c), Manish Pandey, Shakib Al Hasan, Yusuf Pathan, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Rashid Khan, Basil Thampi, Siddarth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma
At the toss...Kane Williamson: "We are gonna have a bat. Very good surface. Just the one change. Hales comes in for Nabi. The way we have adapted to the conditions has been superb."
Ajinkya Rahane: "We had a couple of days off. The preparation has been fantastic and the mood in the camp has been superb. We were looking to bat first as well. Ish Sodhi is in. Very good leg-spinner and has been doing well for New Zealand. Mahipal Lomror, a local guy who has been doing well comes in as well. We were looking to bat first as well."
Brett Lee with the pitch report: I see a couple of bald patches. Don't think spin will play much of a part. Looks hard and there must be plenty of runs. Some cracks and could open up as the game progresses but there is a decent covering of grass that should hold the surface together. Overall, a good pitch. I think the pacers should get help with the new ball and as the game progress, take pace off the ball
Ajinkya Rahane flips the coin and tails is the call, tails it is. Kane Williamson chooses to bat first. SRH WILL BAT FIRST IN JAIPUR!
After going for 104 runs in consecutive games against KXIP and CSK, Rashid Khan has turned things around significantly with figures of 2/11 and 3/19 in the next two matches
These two teams have played eight matches overall with Rajasthan winning four and Hyderabad winning four. So neither side holds the advantage over their history. Winner today takes the lead...
Rajasthan Royals have a couple of issues to address in Jaipur. Do they still presisted with Rahul Tripathi as the opener? And does Jos Buttler remain at number five? Jofra Archer?
Rajasthan Royals Predicted Playing XI: Ajinkya Rahane, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler(wk), Heinrich Klaasen, K Gowtham, Jofra Archer, Dhawal Kulkarni, Shreyas Gopal, Jaydev Unadkat
Sunrisers Hyderabad have been brilliant with the ball so that department may not see any change. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, if fit, can return in place of Sandeep Sharma or Basil Thampi. Sunrisers Hyderabad may well go with the same team
Sunrisers Hyderabad Predicted Playing XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Kane Williamson, Wriddhiman Saha, Manish Pandey, Shakib Al Hasan, Yusuf Pathan, Mohammad Nabi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar/Basil Thampi, Rashid Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Siddarth Kaul
When these two teams met earlier this season, SRH registered a comfortable and dominant 9-wicket win over RR in Hyderabad. SRH restricted RR to just 125/9 which was followed up a Dhawan-Williamson thrashing for the win. Dhawan remained unbeaten on 78 while Williamson scored 36* to put up a 121-run stand. SRH reached the target with 25 balls to spare
Rahane vs Bhuvi and Shane Warne ups the ante!
Ajinkya Rahane is ready and focused on the task at hand. Ready for the impending challenge against a strong bowling unit of SRH
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has now missed two consecutive games this season for Sunrisers Hyderabad. But he trained with the team in Jaipur and there is a chance that he will play the Rajasthan Royals game
Chennai Super Kings, despite their loss last night against Mumbai Indians, top the IPL Points Table with 10 points. Delhi Daredevils are bottom placed. Here in the complete Points Table IPL 2018
Welcome to the coverage of Indian Premier League Match 28 from Jaipur. Rajasthan Royals take on Sunrisers Hyderabad at home and will be eyeing a win and move into the top-four of the points table. They are back after a long break and would be raring to go. But they have a formbidable Sunrisers Hyderabad. The SRH bowlers have defended low totals with ease. And they have to be credited for winning games for them. SRH are second in the points table and have a chance to overtake Chennai Super Kings at the top with a win in Jaipur