Mumbai, April 15: Fifties by Rahul Tripathi and Aiden Markram helped Sunrisers Hyderabad to clinch their third consecutive win in the 2022 Indian Premier League as SRH defeated Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by seven wickets here at the Brabourne Stadium on Friday. Nitish Rana (54) and Andre Russell’s quick-fire unbeaten 49 off 25 lifted KKR to 175/8. In reply, Tripathi (71 off 37) and Markram (68 not out off 36) batted with full responsibility to take SRH over the line with 13 balls to spare. SRH had a horrendous start to their 176-run chase, losing openers Abhishek Sharma (3) and Kane Williamson (17) in the Powerplay. Fast bowler Pat Cummins bowled closer to off stump and Abhishek, who looked for pull, ended up bottom-edging into his stumps. Russell got the big fish Williamson, who also looked to pull but got inside-edge into his stumps. Tripathi and Markram then stitched up a solid 94-run partnership for the third wicket, ensuring SRH stayed alive in the match. Tripathi’s 37-ball stay saw six sixes and four boundaries. A big moment in the game came in the 15th over, when Russell got the crucial wicket of Tripathi. On an off-pace off cutter Tripathi pulled it straight to Venkatesh Iyer at long-on. However, KKR bowlers had no answer to Markram’s onslaught. The South African especially hammered Varun Chakravarthy (0/45) and Cummins (1/40). With 18 needed off last three overs, Markram refused to slow down as he smashed Cummins for a boundary and two sixes to take SRH comfortably home. Earlier in the day, KKR suffered early blows, losing three wickets in the Powerplay after being put into bat. Marco Jansen (1/26), Umran Malik (2/27) and T Natarajan (3/37) caused a lot of trouble for KKR batters. Aaron Finch’s debut innings for KKR short-lived as Jansen removed the Australian for seven. Venkatesh’s (6) lack of footwork fetched Natarajan his first wicket of the day. In no time the left-arm pacer picked another as Sunil Narine (6) gave a straight catch at point region. Rana (54) joined his skipper Shreyas Iyer (28) when KKR were struggling at 31/3 in 4.3 overs. The duo slowly got into the rebuilding act. Umran broke the 39-run partnership as his perfect yorker crashed into the stumps of Shreyas. Russell then provided the much-needed support to Rana. The duo took the aggressive route, with Russell hammering SRH bowlers. Soon after his fifty, Rana was caught behind off the bowling of Natarajan. Rana’s 36-ball innings saw two maximums and six boundaries. Towards the end, Russell slapped four sixes and as many fours to take KKR to a competitive total. (UNI)
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