Vohra charge in vain as Sunrisers snatch victory

Bhuvneshwar Kumar came up with a superb bowling show as Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Kings XI Punjab by five runs here on Monday night.

Sent into bat, Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 159 for six with skipper David Warner hitting 70 off 54 balls at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

In reply, Kings XI were staring at a big defeat at 62 for five at the end of 10th over, but Manan Vohra (95 off 50 balls) brought the visitors within striking distance of pulling off an incredible win.

But Bhuvneshwar, who returned excellent figures of 5/19, had the last laugh as the seamer trapped Vohra leg before in the penultimate over of the match. Vohra struck nine boundaries and five sixes during his whirlwind knock. Kings XI Punjab were eventually bowled out for 154 in 19.4 overs.

Earlier, Hyderabad skipper Warner added 60 valuable runs with Naman Ojha (34), giving the innings some momentum after a slow start, which saw the home side score only 25 runs in the first five overs.

This was Warner’s 34th fifty, the most by any batsman in the tournament, and his fifth straight against Kings XI Punjab.

Opting to field, Kings XI Punjab bowlers were disciplined in their approach on a pitch where shot-making was not the easiest thing in the world. Warner, however, was equal to the task on a day when Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi made his IPL debut.