Swashbuckling opener David Warner butchered the Kolkata Knight Riders bowlers with a whirlwind century to power Sunrisers Hyderabad to an imposing 209-3 in their IPL encounter here today.
Skipper Warner led from the front as he blasted 10 fours and 8 sixes in his 59-ball 126-run innings to single-handedly destroy the famed bowling attack of KKR after captain Gautam Gambhir had decided to bowl after winning the toss.
Warner and Shikhar Dhawan (29), who had forged a 107-run opening partnership in their last match against KXIP, produced yet another scintillating 139-run opening partnership in 76 balls to set up the foundation.
Once they were back into the hut, Kane Williamson (40) used the long handle to good use, blasting five fours in his 25-ball innings and alongwith Yuvraj Singh (6 not out) took Sunrisers across the 200-mark.
This is the highest total in this season and also the third time that Sunrisers have scored a 200-plus total. They had scored 207-3 against Kings XI Punjab in their last match, besides scoring 207-4 against RCB early in the season.
For KKR, who are sitting pretty at the top of the table, none of the bowlers could make any impression as they were taken to the cleaners by Warner.
Opening the innings alongwith Dhawan, Warner put KKR bowlers to the sword as the duo amassed 79-0 in the Powerplay overs.
Warner made his intention clear from the start by dealing in boundaries. He picked up Chris Woakes for special treatment in the 3rd over when he blasted him for a four and a couple of sixes to amass 17 runs.
Yusuf Pathan then came in his firing line as he smashed two fours and a six to once again pile on 17 runs and bring up the team fifty in just 23 balls.
The Australian then switch-hit Sunil Narine over short third man to score his 50 in 20 balls. He then punching him through cover for a four. He continued his rampage and brought up the team 100 in the ninth over by hammering Nathan Coulter-Nile for a maximum over midwicket in the fourth ball.
Kuldeep Yadav then bled 18 runs as Warner clobbered one boundary and two sixes in the 10th over. In the 11th over, Warner picked up a couple of runs by sending Umesh Yadav to the deep midwicket area to score the third century of this season. The Australian savoured the moment by taking off his helmet and soaking in the environment. He took just 43 balls for his hundred.
In the 13th over, Dhawan (29), who was playing the second fiddle, was run out as KKR finally broke the opening partnership. It was Kuldeep Yadav, who produced a brilliant fielding where he picked up the ball and threw the stumps down at the bowler's end after Dhawan failed to make the ground.
Warner's sensational innings came to an end in the 17th over when once again looking for a six off Woakes he was holed out by Gambhir. Kane Williamson (40) and Yuvraj Singh (6) then took Sunrisers across the 200-mark.
