Chennai, April 21: After a combined bowling effort, Jonny Bairstow scored a fighting half century to guide Sunrisers Hyderabad to a 9-wicket victory over Punjab Kings in Match 14 of IPL 2021 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Wednesday (April 21).
Opting to bowl first, Sunrisers Hyderabad bowlers, led by pacer Khaleel Ahmed, produced a disciplined bowling performance to bundle out Punjab Kings for a below-par 120.
In response, Sunrisers skipper David Warner and Bairstow (63 off 56 balls) shared a 73-run stand for the first wicket to take their team across the line with 8 balls to spare.
While Khaleel ended with impressive figures of 3 for 21, young Abhishek Sharma (2/24) took two wickets. Senior pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/16), star Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan (1/17) and Siddarth Kaul (1/27) picked a wicket each to bowl out Punjab in 19.4 overs.
For Punjab Kings, Shahrukh Khan and Mayank Agarawal, who was dropped on 0 in the very first over by Rashid, were the top scorers. Both players scored 22 each.
In Sunrisers run chase, Warner scored a run-a-ball 37 to get his side off to a good start and in the end Williamson (16 off 19 balls partnered Bairstow for a 48 run stand to guide their team to the first victory of the campaign. For PBKS, Fabian Allen was the lone wicket-taker.
Here is how Match 14 of IPL 2021, PBKS vs SRH happened:
End of the match: Jonny Bairstow's half century and Khaleel Ahmed's 3 for 21 helps Sunrisers Hyderabad seal their first win of IPL 2021 as they defeat Punjab Kings by 9 wickets.
And it's all over as Arshdeep bowls a wide to end the match in Sunrisers' favour.
SIX! Bairstow doesn't want to wait for the final over as he pulls Arshdeep into the stands for a maximum.
SRH - 111/1 in 18 overs: A productive for Sunrisers as Bairstow gets them close to the target with 7 runs from Hooda's final over.
FOUR! Bairstow moves on to 51 with a boundary as he pulls Hooda towards square leg.
SRH - 104/1 in 17 overs: A four run over from Ashwin leaves Hyderabad with 17 to get off 18 balls.
SRH - 100/1 in 16 overs: Arshdeep concedes 5 runs as Sunrisers slowly close in on the target and should get there with 9 wickets in hand. But, a wicket now may change the situation.
SRH - 95/1 in 15 overs: Allen ends his quota of 4 overs with figures of 1 for 22. Sunrisers need another 26 runs to win from 30 balls.
SRH - 91/1 in 14 overs: 4 runs come from Hooda's third over as Sunrisers close in on win and the umpires signal for the final time-out.
SRH - 87/1 in 13 overs: Although they are not finding the boundaries, Bairstow and Williamson continue to look for runs as they score 7 runs off Allen's third over. Sunrisers need 35 runs to win from 42 balls.
SRH - 80/1 in 12 overs: Murugan Ashwin fails to keep the pressure on as Bairstow and Williamson keep themselves busy to get 7 runs from the over.
SRH - 73/1 in 11 overs: A wicket-maiden from Fabian Allen gives Punjab a faintest of hopes as Kane Williams walks out to replace Warner.
WICKET! Allen strikes as Warner departs for 37 trying to slog the West Indian, but finds Mayank at deep mid-wicket. SRH - 73/1 in 10.1 overs.
At the half way stage, SRH reach 73/0 in 10 overs and need 48 runs to win from 60 balls with Warner and Bairstow unbeaten on 37 and 32 respectively.
SIX! Warner comes down the track and hits Hooda inside out for a maximum.
SRH - 64/0 in 9 overs: Ashwin once again concedes6 runs from his over.
SRH - 58/0 in 8 overs: Deepak Hooda bowls a good tight over as he keeps Warner quiet.
SRH - 56/0 in 7 overs: Warner and Bairstow do a lot of running as Murugan Ashwin concedes 6 runs from the over.
Murugan Ashwin is introduced into the attack as Rahul looks to break the SRH opening stand.
At the end of powerplay, Sunrisers reach 50/0 in 6 overs with Warner and Bairstow unbeaten on 22 and 26 respectively as Arshdeep concedes 10 runs from his second over.
FOUR! Warner sweeps Arshdeep for his third boundary of the match.
SRH - 40/0 in 5 overs: Bairstow looks in good touch as Henriques concedes 7 runs from his first over.
SIX! Bairstow deposits a short ball from Henriques into the stands for his second maximum.
SRH - 33/0 in 4 overs: After openers get off to good start Arshdeep bowls a tight over as he concedes just 6 runs from it.
FOUR! Another boundary to end the over as Warner cuts Shami past the diving Hooda at the deep point. SRH - 27/0 in 3 overs.
FOUR! Bairstow pulls Shami to score his third boundary of the match.
SIX! Bairstow hits Allen over long on for the first maximum of the Hyderabad innings. SRH - 17/0 in 2 overs.
FOUR! Bairstow wlecomes Fabian Allen into IPL 2021 with a lofted shot for a boundary.
SRH - 6/0 in 1 over: Warner and Bairstow off to steady start as Shami concedes six runs in his first over despite conceding a boundary.
FOUR! Warner off the mark with a boundary as he drives Shami through the covers.