5 min learnHyderabadMight 7, 2026 12:06 AM IST
Synopsis: After dropping their final recreation, SRH acquired again to profitable methods in opposition to PBKS to achieve the highest of the desk with 14 factors from 11 video games
After trying flawless within the match for the primary seven video games, the Punjab Kings have misplaced their third recreation in a row. Fielding is more and more changing into a worrying signal for final yr’s finalists. Towards Sunrisers Hyderabad, this was evident as their dropped probabilities for Heinrich Klaasen and Ishan Kishan proved to be the essential moments that in the end determined the sport. Quite the opposite, coming off a loss, Hyderabad carried out effectively in all three departments.
Butter fingers
Shreyas Iyer subtly talked about on the toss what occurred in Hyderabad the final time the Punjab Kings visited. “On this wicket…they chased 245,” he stated, however behind that high-scoring chase was the Kings’ sloppy fielding effort; they dropped a number of probabilities. Abhishek Sharma scored a ton. A yr later, on Wednesday, the identical untidy fielding effort led them to concede 235 runs.
The poor fielding virus confirmed its signs late within the recreation in opposition to Lucknow Tremendous Giants, when Shashank Singh dropped three catches. The end result was all however determined that evening in Mullanpur, and Iyer might see the humorous aspect of it, however right here, when Shashank dropped Klaasen on 9, the Punjab skipper’s expression was not as completely satisfied. With the wealthy vein of type Klaasen has proven this match, he made it rely.
Klaasen did what he has been doing for SRH this season: strolling in through the center overs and laying the inspiration for the ultimate overs. Klaasen performed second fiddle when Ishan Kishan was batting, although he confirmed power-hitting at any time when the ball was in his arc. Ishan scored a half-century, however he himself had a charmed life all through on the crease, the place he was dropped twice. When he was 9, Cooper Connolly spilt one at mid-wicket, when he was 18, Lockie Ferguson missed an opportunity at square-leg, and on 20, wicket-keeper Prabhsimran Singh missed the stumping likelihood. Each Klaasen and Ishan put up 88 runs within the center overs. The duo’s power-hitting high quality was as ballistic as at all times.
AS IT HAPPENED | SUNRISERS HYDERABAD VS PUNJAB KINGS IPL 2026 HIGHLIGHTS
To the Punjab Kings’ credit score, they devised shrewd plans to counter SRH’s batting. They did what the SRH bowlers have been doing on this floor this season: digging the ball into the floor and taking the tempo off. Nevertheless, they obtained no assist from their fielders. Vijaykumar Vyshak took a extreme beating from the Kishan-Klaasen partnership through the center overs. By the point he got here into the assault, batters have been conscious of what to anticipate and began to arrange.
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After scoring a half-century, Ishan hit one via mid-wicket; mockingly sufficient, Suryansh Shedge at deep mid-wicket took a catch this time. Klaasen fell on the ultimate supply when Marco Jansen took an unusually low, bent catch at lengthy off for a ball that went excessive within the air.
Fielding to the forefront
Though the Kings had the intentions and plans in place, their execution failed, which is the place the Sunrisers acquired their two factors. Within the first over, Pat Cummins dug one into the wicket, and Priyansh Arya made an error. The pull shot didn’t come off, and Eshan Malinga took an outstanding working catch at square-leg. Nitish got here into the assault searching for swing and pitched the ball up. Prabhsimran Singh tried to shut the bat face early, however the ball took the forefront. Cummins, fielding at mid-off, took a stunning catch whereas working backwards, utilizing a reverse cupped-hand place.
Shreyas Iyer, who has typically saved the day for Punjab Kings in high-scoring chases, perished within the powerplay. His counterpart, Cummins, took the catch at mid-off when Iyer mis-hit a supply from Malinga. Shedding three wickets within the powerplay, Punjab was hampered within the chase. They needed to keep the gruelling steadiness of preserving the tempo with out dropping any extra wickets. Marcus Stoinis and Cooper Connolly partnered, stopped the autumn of wickets and likewise counter-attacked fairly bravely earlier than on-field brilliance undid Stoinis. Shivang Kumar delivered one extensive. Stoinis slashed at it as exhausting as he might, however keeper Ishan’s fast reflexes secured the catch on the second try. Connolly discovered one other ally in Shedge. They constructed 47 runs from 30 deliveries, and Cummins introduced himself again into the assault to interrupt the partnership, deploying the pitch’s most effective weapon: a sluggish bumper.
By the midway mark of the chase, Punjab wanted 145 runs from the following 10 overs. This fell precisely into SRH’s bowling template. The ball was oldish and reversing a bit. Malinga and Sakib Hussain, knew the drill that works right here in Uppal. The bowlers saved pressuring the Punjab batters. However Connolly continued on his merry manner. Whereas the opposite Punjab batters struggled with the sluggish pitch, Connolly, who performs on bouncy Western Australia pitches, has a super backfoot recreation fitted to this pitch. Weighting on the again foot, he had solutions for all of the variations SRH supplied and fought the lone battle for Punjab.
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Temporary scores: SRH 235/4 in 20 ovs (Klaasen 69, Ishan 55, Head 38) beat Punjab Kings 202/7 in 20 ovs (Connolly 107 n.o; Cummins 2-34).
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