All-star of the match
Kane Williamson has been a different beast this IPL. In the absence of David Warner, he has added a layer of calculated risk-taking to his game to elevate his scoring rate. His strike-rate of 131.83 is discernibly better than his career strike-rate of 119.15, and he's managed it in a season of low totals for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Monday against Royal Challengers Bangalore was another prime example. On a tough batting surface at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Williamson displayed clarity in thought that enabled him to bat on a different plane to the rest of his team. Sunrisers had lost their openers inside the Powerplay, and were ticking along at just over six an over. Given their middle-order frailties, Williamson had to be the one to construct a fightback.
He had a generous welcome rolled out to him, as Tim Southee drifted one into his pads first ball, and Williamson tickled it to fine leg. However, maintaining that rate of scoring was hard on a surface where the ball didn't come on easily. Losing Manish Pandey in the ninth over made Williamson's life harder, but Shakib Al Hasan complemented his captain well. With Shakib, Williamson put on 64 for the fourth wicket and ensured Sunrisers would have something to bowl at.
At the 13-over mark, Sunrisers were 80 for 3. Then, Williamson produced a sharp burst of boundary-hitting that set them up for an above-par total. He put Umesh Yadav away for a four and a six in the 14th over, and then slogged Yuzvendra Chahal over deep midwicket in the 15th, bringing up his fifth half-century of the season one ball later. In a three-over spell until his dismissal, Sunrisers plundered 32 runs. Though they lost substantial ground after that, RCB's struggles while chasing reinforced just how well Williamson had batted to take a sluggish surface out of the equation.
The wow moment
Williamson's six off Chahal in the 15th over was remarkable, both for the timing and power behind the shot, as well as the reach that created it. Chahal had tossed one up well outside the off stump, and Williamson sent a slog-sweep sailing flat over midwicket, against the turn. The key: a huge stride across, a powerful swing, a smooth follow-through, and fantastic balance.
The numbers
Williamson's smart strike rate this season is 144.04, a significant leap from his traditional strike rate of 131.83. According to ESPNcricinfo's Smart Stats, he has scored roughly 38 runs more than par for a batsman batting in his position and game situations.
Williamson now has five fifties - the most by any batsman this season. He is also second in the tournament run charts with 410 runs, 13 behind Ambati Rayudu.
What they said
"It was hard work initially. It was nice to get a few boundaries away towards the end. It was a tough surface to get momentum. It was about partnerships to put up a competitive total."
Kane Williamson