Cummins, Bhuvneshwar help SRH snatch thriller by one run
Cummins bowled a superb 19th over followed by Bhuvneshwar successfully defending 12 in the final over
Cummins bowled a superb 19th over followed by Bhuvneshwar successfully defending 12 in the final over
Scorer: K Vairavan | Commentator: Shashwat Kumar
11:52pm And....breathe. What a rollercoaster of emotions across four hours. A game that picturises everything the IPL is about - twists, turns and thrilling finales. We will do it all over again tomorrow, as the Mumbai Indians, now certainly in must-win territory, clash against the Kolkata Knight Riders. Do join us for that game too. Until then, this is goodbye from all of us here at ESPNcricinfo. Goodnight and take care!
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Player of the Match: (On always being calm) I think that is my nature. Process is very important, and I was not thinking about the result in the last over and was thoughtless. He (Cummins) came to me and asked me if everything was okay. There was no discussion as such, and was just focussed on the process. Was just thinking of taking it to the last two balls, and then anything can happen. I was not thinking about the one extra fielder up. It was the first match the ball swung so much. Can't really pinpoint where the ball swung last, really enjoyed it. When it does swing, you try to take wickets and luckily, I got them. When the season started, the thought process was different. When we started batting this way, it totally changed. Practically, when we bowled, we were trying to restrict teams to somewhere around 200.
Pat Cummins, Sunrisers Hyderabad captain: Amazing game. Didn't think we had that one until literally the last ball. (What was going through his head in the last over) It is T20 cricket, you get used to the batters getting over the line. When you get to the last over, you do feel anything can happen. Bhuvneshwar nailed six yorkers. On the last ball, it did not really cross my mind that we could get a wicket, was thinking Super Over. Natarajan is an awesome yorker bowler. They batted really well, fortunately got a few wickets. (On the dropped chances) They are quality players, cannot give them chances. He (Nitish) is fantastic. He summed up the conditions really well - took the first ten balls to get himself in and then basically hit it wherever he wanted. He is amazing, is great in the field and gives a couple of handy overs as well.
Sanju Samson, Rajasthan Royals captain: We have really played some close games and won a couple of them. Lost one here, and we have to give credit to the SRH bowlers. We were going at 10 per over till the last over. Margin for error is very less in the IPL and you have to give SRH credit. Knowing the nature of the IPL, you never win the game until you actually win the game. It was very tough to bat on with the new ball. We bowled well in the powerplay. When the ball got old, it was easier to bat and they capitalised really well. (On Jaiswal and Parag) You have to give credit to both youngsters. They took care of the innings, played responsibility to get there. You tend to take those chances and you tend to get out also. They played really well.
Travis Head: It is a good win, not one we expected. Bhuvi showed his class at the end. To get this after a couple of losses, nice for the energy (in the group). The way Pat bowled the 19th, class at the end from him and Bhuvi. Very satisfied with the win in the end. I thought it was a great score. He played out of his skin. He has done it a couple of times this season already, and he (Nitish) stepped up and was class. I felt we had heaps (on the board). But that is how it is in T20 cricket, and there are lot of very good batters in the IPL . Always nice to win in front of these guys and we have a few more home games now.
11:25pm Phew. What a game. What a game. It will take hours and hours for everyone to make sense of what actually happened. RR had it. They had it right in their grasp, especially when Jaiswal and Parag were teeing off. They perished in relative quick succession, though, and that initially threw a spanner in their works.
Then, Hetmyer seemed destined to take RR home. His dismissal, though, left the door ajar and despite Powell ticking along nicely, SRH managed to barge through. Cummins, who dropped Jaiswal very early, came back with a stellar penultimate over. Bhuvneshwar, who set the ball rolling with two wickets in the first over, then closed out the game. Special mention to Natarajan too, who gave away only 35 runs in four overs and picked up the vital scalps of Jaiswal and Hetmyer.
Coming back to RR, they will be disappointed with the eventual outcome. However, they will be pleased with how Jaiswal and Parag played post Buttler and Samson's early departures. It was not to be for them tonight, but this game should hold them in good stead moving forward.
R Powell lbw b Kumar 27 (15b 3x4 1x6) SR: 180.00
Bhuvneshwar has had plenty of time to think about this last ball now. What does he bowl? Does Powell stay still or does he move around his crease? 2 off 1. Here we go!
Plenty of running repairs for Powell. He seemed to hurt himself but the adrenaline would be pumping right now. All he wants is to take RR home here. The umpire steps in and asks Powell and the rest of the RR contingent on the field to hurry up
6 off 3 now
12 off 5. All eyes on Bhuvneshwar and Powell. Does Bhuvneshwar also look for the wide yorker, and does Powell pre-empt it?
13 off 6. Ashwin on strike. Bhuvneshwar to bowl. So much experience on both ends. Who will triumph? Looks like the over-rate penalty has been imposed too. SRH can only have four fielders outside the ring
Three Indian batters under the age of 23 thrived in a high-pressure game against high-quality bowling
Cummins bowled a superb 19th over followed by Bhuvneshwar successfully defending 12 in the final over
Sixes, dots, near run-outs, and a nervy last-ball finish; Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals had it all
Cummins, meanwhile, was "just thinking Super Over" in nail-biting finish against Royals
Royals have given up a 200-plus total just once, while Sunrisers have set and reset IPL records all season