11:18pm And that is a wrap for tonight. We hope you enjoyed our coverage and we will be back with more IPL action tomorrow. Until then, from Harshith, Thilak and myself (Shashwat), it is goodbye. Take care, folks!
Kagiso Rabada, Player of the Match: (On the dropped catch of Kishan) Did not react fast enough and did not judge (the pace of the ball). Luckily, we got the wicket (off the next over). Season in, season out, all you try to do is do the best you can. I have been backed and it has been clear what my role has been: leave everything out for the team. Rhythm is everything. About bowling as much as I can but also preserving myself to be match ready. Need to find a way to somehow click. (Chat in the bowling group before an innings) Just about finding out the kind of pitch we are playing on and bowling accordingly. We each have our own natural attributes, and it is about seeing how much you can extract, without looking too far ahead. If your strength is not working out, then you can look at something else. (On the pitch and if bowling a Test match length was the way to go) 100 percent. They showed how to bowl on it and we tried to follow suit. Wicket got a little more sticky and patience and simplicity worked.
Shubman Gill, GT captain: Teams batting first…worked out for us nicely. We bowled very well. We knew if we bowled well, we would always be in the game. We spoke about if we get anywhere near 160-170, it will not be easy for them with our bowling attack. The way Sai and Washy batted, getting us close to 170, and then the way we bowled in the powerplay, kudos to both of our bowlers. It is all about being consistent and being ruthless. We are not a team who play a particular style and brand, and assess the conditions (and play according to it). (On Holder adding balance) he is such an experienced campaigner. He has been relentless for us, bowling four on the trot and he is doing a terrific job for us.
Pat Cummins, SRH captain: (What they could have done differently) Thought they (GT pacers) bowled really well. Pretty happy when we walked off. Tricky wicket, they bowled well. Try to look for ways to get through that spell maybe. Looked like a tough wicket when you hit that back of a length. Maybe we could have held our lengths a little longer. But that is as good a T20 bowling (performance) as you can see from them. Our batting has been fantastic, so not reading too much into that. Guys have gone really well. This happens in T20 cricket. We (now) go to venues we know well, so we take confidence from that. We won five or six (out of our last 7-8) and that gives a bit of breathing room (in the playoff race), so going back to what got us those wins and putting this behind quickly.
Washington Sundar: (On his innings) Definitely happy. Just focussing on reading the situation. Wicket was different from previous games - wanted to understand what shots to play, and having a set batter (at the end) helps. (On the six off Malinga in the 19th) I was trying to get that shot right, they were nailing the yorkers, happy to get it (well). The plan was to not think much. Thoughts do come in now and then. I was more focused on understanding the wicket and the situation - it demanded one of us to play till the end, and happy with the way I finished. Until the 17-18th over, did not want to go all-out, but in the last couple of overs, tried to get as many boundaries as I could. (On facing Siraj and Rabada in the nets) I don't think I should give away too much (laughs). Have to be disciplined and watch the ball very closely (and hope that they make an error). (On defending this score) Speaks a lot about our team setup - the kind of people who are part of it, they give a lot of importance to playing good cricket. Playing according to the conditions is important, even in this format.
10:55pm A proper thrashing. No two ways about it. At the half-way stage, the jury was out on whether GT had a par total on the board. As it turned out, they had far too many for SRH. Siraj and Rabada were irresistible in the powerplay, and blew the top order away. Klaasen threatened a resistance but once Holder sent him packing, it was a long, long road back for the visitors.
Rabada and Holder finished with three apiece, with Siraj also getting himself on the board. Prasidh, on his return to the side, bagged two with Rashid landing the final knockout blow. GT have boosed their NRR too and in the process, they have also severely dented SRH's to make this crazy season even more interesting.
PP Hinge st †Buttler b Rashid Khan 3 (14m 8b 0x4 0x6) SR: 37.5
Rashid gets a bowl now. Slip in place
END OF OVER:14 | 10 Runs 1 Wkt | SRH: 82/9 (87 runs required from 36 balls, RR: 5.85, RRR: 14.50)
- Eshan Malinga0 (2b)
- Praful Hinge0 (4b)
- Prasidh Krishna3-0-23-2
- Jason Holder4-0-20-3
Malinga is the last batter in. SRH staring at their lowest-ever IPL total too. Around the wicket
PJ Cummins c Mohammed Siraj b Prasidh Krishna 19 (23m 9b 1x4 2x6) SR: 211.11
Final time-out of the game. SRH have a mountain to climb. If they are to get a win, we will have watched something beyond extraordinary. 97 off 42, for what it is worth, and with only two wickets in hand. Prasidh to bowl
Sivaji: "Hurts to see as a SRH fan. We still haven't cracked the middle order formula yet.. "
END OF OVER:13 | 1 Run 1 Wkt | SRH: 72/8 (97 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 5.53, RRR: 13.85)
- Praful Hinge0 (4b)
- Pat Cummins9 (5b)
- Jason Holder4-0-20-3
- Prasidh Krishna2-0-13-1
Hinge on strike now
