Manish Pandey and Jonny Bairstow’s half-centuries went in vain as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) fell 10 runs short of the target in their opening fixture of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Chennai, on Sunday, 11 April.
IPL 2021: Orange Cap, Purple Cap, points table after Match 3 (SRH vs KKR)
Nitish Rana was adjudged Player of the Match for his impressive knock. Rana scored 80 runs in 56 balls, and forged an important partnership with Rahul Tripathi to set up a strong base for the KKR.
Nitish Rana set the stage on fire with the bat and won the Man of the Match award for his superb show in Match 3 of the #VIVOIPL. 👏👏#SRHvKKR pic.twitter.com/GV2EY3R2u6
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 11, 2021
Rana also joined the illustrious list of Rohit Sharma and Shane Watson to score IPL half-century at each batting positions between Nos. 1 and 5.
Players with an IPL fifty-plus score at all top-5 batting positions (No.1 to No.5):-
Rohit Sharma
Shane Watson
NITISH RANA#SRHvKKR— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) April 11, 2021
If Rana and Tripathi gave their team a perfect start, Dinesh Karthik added the finishing touch. Karthik’s 9-ball 22 not out propelled KKR to a steep total of 187/6. Here are some acknowledgements for Karthik’s cameo.
Rana, Tripathi played superbly. But the winning difference could have come from DK. Something about him and his 9 ball innings! #KKRvSRH
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) April 11, 2021
Karthik’s 9 ball 22 was the difference in the end. Such innings in T20 cricket are of great value but unfortunately, are either not appreciated enough or are forgotten quickly. #KKRHaiTaiyaar #SRHvKKR #IPL2021
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 11, 2021
Although Manish Pandey scored a half-century, he failed to accelerate his innings in accordance with the target.
I think @SunRisers wanted a bit more from Manish Pandey. He had to play the lead role and provide the finish. And, I have no doubt they will play Samad a bit higher. Give him 25-30 balls and he could change games
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 11, 2021
Abdul Samad’s towering sixes off Pat Cummins grabbed eyeballs of the cricketing fandom. A batsman possessing such hitting prowess should definitely come higher up the order.
Well done @KKRiders on winning this game. With Russel bowling they have 6 quality options. But why was samad sent so late ?? #KKRvSRH
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 11, 2021
Abdul Samad. Serious talent. He’s hit sixes against Nortje, Rabada, Bumrah and Cummins. Side note—He hit 36 sixes in his debut first-class season. #IPL2021 #SRHvKKR
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 11, 2021
Abdul Samad has faced 18 different bowlers in IPL. But he’s hit only 4 of them for sixes.
They are..
Cummins – 3 sixes (8 balls)
Bumrah – 2 sixes (6 balls)
Nortje – 2 sixes (8 balls)
Rabada – 1 six (5 balls)#SRHvsKKR #IPL2021 #SRH— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) April 11, 2021