Rashid Khan gives Sunrisers another crack at CSK and IPL title
Rashid Khan single-handedly ended Sunrisers Hyderabad's four-match losing streak to beat Kolkata Knight Riders in the virtual semi-final of the IPL
Rashid Khan single-handedly ended Sunrisers Hyderabad's four-match losing streak to beat Kolkata Knight Riders in the virtual semi-final of the IPL
Commentator: Shashank Kishore
That's all the cricket for the night, but be sure to come prepared for an action-packed Saturday, including the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool. Here's a tasty appetizer to get Liverpool fans into the mood for the summit clash in Kiev.
10.55pm So the top two sides from the group stages will contest the grand finale! First win for Sunrisers Hyderabad in over two weeks, and what a big win this is. The hero? None other than Rashid Khan, who smashed an unbeaten 10-ball 34 to set up a strong target of 175. Then with the ball, he did what he usually does. Picked up the crucial wickets of Chris Lynn and Andre Russell in successive overs to tilt the scales in Sunrisers' favour.
Rashid Khan is the Player of he Match. He dedicates the award to those who lost their lives in a blast during a cricket game in his hometown few days ago. Is there something he can't do? Bat, ball, field. He's a legend already in these parts. "It was much-needed for me, wanted to give my 100 percent in all departments. Focus was to just believe in my skills. I was happy with the batting, it was needed in the end. I started my career as a batsman, I believe in my skills and wanted to finish off well. I just tried to pick the lengths, the focus was to play straight. That was the plan from the senior players. Fielding is one department where you can't make excuses, compared to last year, I've worked really hard in my fielding. If I can't contribute with bat or ball, I'm always looking forward to contribute on the field. Modern cricket demands that. I'm working hard on that."
Kane Williamson, the winning captain: Was a great fighting effort, game ebbed and flowed. Game could've gone either way, fell our way in crunch moments. Credit to the way the boys finished off. Was slipping away at the start, but we pulled it back nicely to get wickets. Rashid was brilliant, but he's got another game day after. We'll keep him wrapped up. Exciting, must-win game, great to go through to the final, important to move on. As a team we fight till the last ball, showed that today. Someone like Rashid is the perfect example of that. Outstanding talent, but a team effort. Lot of the guys chipped in, great team fighting effort which is the attitude we want to see. I the thing we didn't change was our balance, Saha was injured but he came back, was nice to have his experience. Every one of the guys have played a huge part, whether on or off the field."
Shakib Al Hasan: Third time i'll be playing in an IPL final. Thanks to the franchise for playing me in all games. Some games we didn't do our best, but a good tournament overall for Sunrisers. We always knew you can lose in the last two-three overs in T20s, momentum changes. We had to hold our nerves, but we used our experience from the other day. Carlos will be a happy man, the way we lost that day, he thought it was because of him. The way he came back today was terrific. Chennai is a great side, it'll be a great final. In the middle overs where Rashid and I bowled, we squeezed the game. That was the turning point.
Dinesh Karthik, the losing captain: It's hard to digest, we played a good tournament. To finish on the losing side doesn't feel good. We had the game at the 10-over mark, couple of bad shots cost us. Me, Robin had to bat through, Lynn was good. Me not batting through was a mistake on my part.
Brathwaite on a hat-trick
Shubman Gill c Rashid Khan b Brathwaite 30 (20b 2x4 1x6) SR: 150.00
Kuldeep is the new man in
Shivam Mavi c Rashid Khan b Brathwaite 6 (4b 1x4 0x6) SR: 150.00
Brathwaite to go around the stumps
Carlos Brathwaite to bowl the final over. It was here two years ago that he hit 19 off Stokes to win the World T20 title for West Indies in dramatic circumstances. Here he's going to have to defend 19 to take Sunrisers into the IPL final. Either ways, 'remember the name.'
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