Bengaluru, Sept. 25: Playing in his debut IPL match, Nathan Ellis held on to his nerves as Punjab Kings notched up a five run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in match 37 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Playing in the second match of the day, Sunrisers bowlers put up a clinical display to keep the Kings in check and restrict them to 125/7. But in the end, the total turned out to be too much for the Sunrisers as they fell to a five run loss and with the loss their hopes of qualifying for the playoffs came crashing down.
After electing to bowl first, Sunrisers restricted Punjab to a paltry total. Jason Holder led the attack with a three wicket haul as the Punjab batsmen failed to build partnerships on a slow track. Skipper KL Rahul (21 off 21) and Adrien Markram (27 off 32) top scored for the Kings.
In reply, the Sunrisers found it tough from the onset, as Mohammad Shami removed a struggling David Warner for just 2 and captain Kane Williamson for just 1. Holder impressed with the bat as well with an unbeaten 47 off 29, but Ellis bowling the final over held onto to his nerves to hand Punjab a five run win.
With the win, Punjab Kings kept their playoff hopes alive as they climbed to fifth with four wins from eight matches. Sunrisers fell to their eight loss from nine matches.
Here's how the Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings IPL match panned out:
End of match: The Punjab Kings are making it a habit of churning out thrillers and unlike their previous match, the KL Rahul-led side came out on the winning side tonight. With their five-run win over SRH, Punjab have now moved up to fifth spot on the table and their playoff hopes are alive, while Sunrisers hopes of qualifying come crashing down with this loss. A tough pill to swallow for Hyderabad, who have just one win from nine matches this season. Punjab now have four wins from ten matches.
Nathan Ellis on his IPL debut holds on to his nerves as Punjab Kings win by 5 runs. Sunrisers Hyderabad's hopes of a playoff berth are over with this loss.
Quick running in between the wickets as they come back for 2. 7 needed off 1. 6 for superover
Ellis keeps it tight with two consecutive dot balls. 10 needed off 2 now.
SIX!! Jason Holder keeps SRH's hopes alive as he effortlessly whacks it over long on. 10 needed off 4 now
Ellis bowls the final over. Bhuvi gets off the mark with a single. Holder on strike. 16 need off 5
Just four runs of the over. Arshdeep completes his spell, turning in figures of 4-0-22-1. SRH need 17 off the final over
WICKET!! Rashid skies it. Arshdeep calls it and picks it up himself as Rashid goes for 3 off 4. SRH 105/7 after 18.1 overs. 21 needed off 1. Holder on strike
9 runs off Shami's final over. 21 needed off the last two overs.
SIX!! Holder whacks this over long on for a much needed boundary
Shami to bowl out. Single to begin. Shami's picked up two wickets with the new ball. More wickets on the card on his final over?
Just five runs off the over. SRH need 30 from the last three overs
Arshdeep strikes after the break as SRH in trouble. Miscommunication in the middle as the settled Saha has to go back to the dugout. Saha goes for 31 off 37. After the previous over lifted SRH's hopes, this was not what SRH was looking for. Rashid is the new man in. SRH at 93/6 after 16.1 overs
Finishes with a dot but this was the over Sunrisers needed as 16 runs come off it. SRH: 91/5 after six overs.
SIX!! Two back-to-back maximums off Eliis as Holder sends the second one over long on.
SIX!! Jason Holder whacks this over deep square leg. Much needed boundaries for SRH. After impressing with the ball, looks like Holder will turn it around with the bat as well
SIX! Holder whacks it back over the bowler's head for a maximum. Bishnoi's spell comes to an end. The youngster ends with figures of 4-0-24-3
Bishnoi to bowl out. More wickets on the card?
Holder off the mark with a single. The run rate has creeped up to 9.94
Jason Holder the new man in
WICKET No. 3 for Bishnoi and the second one of the over! Samad edges it and Gayle makes no mistake at third man. SRH lose their fifth. SRH: 60/5 after 13 overs
Appeal for LBW. Not give. Rahul reviews it. Review lost. Saha's safe.
Abdul Samad the new batsman in. Gets underway with a single
WICKET!! Chops it onto the stumps as Kedar Jadhav goes for 12 off 12. Bishnoi picks up his second wicket. SRH: 56/4 after 12.2 overs
Saha gets checked by the physio. Given some spray on his arm. More trouble for SRH?
Bishnoi back into the attack. A single to begin
Just four runs off the over. SRH: 43/3 after 10 overs
Change in bowling. Ellis back into the attack.
Seven runs comes off Harpreet Brar's over. SRH: 39/3 after 9 overs. The required run rate has creeped up to 7.90. SRH need 87 from 66
Kedar Jadhav the new man in.