IPL 2016: Captain David Warner takes Sunrisers Hyderabad to first win

Hyderabad, April 18: Leading from the front, skipper David Warner smashed an unbeaten 90 to single-handedly steer Sunrisers Hyderabad to a comfortable 7-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians in an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2016 match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here on Monday night (April 18).

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Batting first, Mumbai lost wickets at regular intervals and could manage only 142/6 in 20 overs. Ambati Rayudu (54) was the top scorer for the visitors.

In reply, Warner struck seven boundaries and four sixes, as the home side comfortably chased down the total, posting 145/3 in 17.3 overs.

Chasing 143, the home side got off to a disappointing start losing opener Shikhar Dhawan (2) in the very first over. The poor form for the left-handed batsman continued as he was cleaned up after failing to read an inswinging yorker from pacer Tim Southee.

But his opening partner and skipper David Warner used his experience to good effect to hold on and score runs at a good pace to keep his team well in course towards a win.

He was well supported at the other end by Moises Henriques (20) as the duo struck an important 62-run partnership for the second wicket before Henriques was dismissed in the 11th over to hand Mumbai some hope of getting back into the game. Hyderabad were then 66/2.

But Warner held on to take his team over the line in style.

Southee (3-24) was the pick of the bowlers for Mumbai.

Earlier put in to bat, the defending champions got off to disastrous start, losing debutant hard-hitting batsman Martin Guptill (2) in the first over itself to have the team on the backfoot.

His opening partner Parthiv Patel (10) also departed in the fourth over after striking two boundaries to leave the team struggling at 23/2.

From there on, Ambati Rayudu (54) and skipper Rohit Sharma (5) held on for a couple of overs to help the team reach 40/2 in the powerplay.

But a big confusion between the two saw the skipper being run out in the eighth over to leave the team in a spot of bother at 43/3.

Despite the wicket, Rayudu played positively along with Jos Buttler (11) to take the team to a stable position. But as the Englishman was looking set and ready for a good partnership with Rayudu, Sran removed Buttler to pile on more trouble for the visitors.

Next up, all-rounder Krunal Pandya (49 not out), who was promoted up the batting order, played positively with a couple of boundaries and sixes to help the team cross the 100-run mark.

But the much needed 63-run partnership for the fifth wicket came to an end as Rayudu was dismissed in the 18th over to put a halt to Mumbai's scoring rate.

IANS