Sunrisers Hyderabad's move to opt for all-rounder Mohammad Nabi in place of the in-form Kane Williamson paid off as the hosts got a much-needed victory under their belt with a seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad. The win has helped Sunrisers, who have 15 points, strengthen its position in the points table. They still have one more game to go against Gujarat Lions in Kanpur and a win there will make sure of their place in the play-offs. If not, they will have to wait for the other results to know their fate.
Gujarat dent Punjab's chances
Gujarat Lions dealt a severe blow to Kings XI Punjab's knockout qualifying chances when they outgunned the hosts by six wickets. Chasing a challenging target of 190, Gujarat were propped up by a stellar knock by opener Dwayne Smith who came back to form with a 39-ball 74. Ishan Kishan (29), captain Suresh Raina (39) and Dinesh Kathik (35 not out) also played crucial hands as Gujarat romped home with two balls to spare. The 19th over, bowled by Varun Aaron, proved to be critical as Karthik hit a six and four and 16 runs accrued to Gujarat's account, making their task of reaching the target much easier. Earlier, a century from Hashim Amla and a half-century by Shaun Marsh helped Punjab post 189-3.
Kolkata all but seal playoff spot
Travis Head (75) and Mandeep Singh (52) did their best to help hosts Royal Challengers Bangalore post a challenging 158-6 in 20 overs, but openers Chris Lynn (50) and Sunil Narine (54) made a mockery of the chase with whirlwind knocks as Kolkata notched up a six-wicket victory to keep their Indian Premier League playoffs hopes alive. The intensity of the visitors' chase was such that they cruised to 50 runs in just 3.3 overs, as the pair used brute force to hammer a toothless Bangalore bowling attack, Lynn returning to action after being sidelined for over a month with a dislocated shoulder suffered in the match against Mumbai Indians, showed no mercy as he clobbered to Aniket Choudhary for 14 runs in the first over with two fours and two sixes.
Mumbai first team in playoffs
In a bid to repeat their batting heroics for a third successive time, Delhi Daredevils stuck to their policy of opting to chase against Mumbai Indians at the Ferozeshah Kotla. The move led to disastrous consequences after Mumbai went hammer and tongs and notched up a mammoth 212-3. In reply, Delhi sank to another shocking low, losing by an unbelievable 146-run margin, the biggest in terms of runs in the IPL. Delhi only lasted 13.4 overs and managed 66 runs, their lowest in the IPL. The win assured Mumbai a place in the playoffs. Delhi's season, meanwhile, seems as good as over, although they still stand a chance if they can win their remaining three matches.
Big Ben leads Pune past Hyderabad
It took a giant from England to breach Sunrisers Hyderabad's citadel this season. After having withstood the onslaught of five teams, the hosts finally tasted a loss at their favourite haunt- Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. Big Ben stoked Rising Pune Supergiant's 12-run win and thereby strengthen their position in the points table. Stokes all-round show was supplemented with a brilliant hat-trick by left-arm seamer Jaidev Undakat. Pune have 16 points with two games left, while Sunrisers are left in pursuit of a place in the playoffs. Chasing what turned out to be a tricky 149 for victory, Hyderabad openers David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan gave their side a good start but two quick strikes by Stokes in the fifth over pegged the charge.
Sandeep stings Bangalore
Kings XI Punjab can teach Royal Challengers Bangalore a thing or two about putting up a fight. After posting a below-par total, the visitors defended with heart to condemn the home side to a humiliating 19-run defeat - their ninth in 12 matches - to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot. Chasing 139 to win, RCB - a team in free-fall at the moment - limped to 119 all out at M Chinnaswamy stadium. Kings XI paceman Sandeep Sharma sparked a spectacular collapse with his incisive swing bowling, removing the home side's Big Three of Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers within the first five overs. Only Mandeep Singh (46) and Pawan Negi (21) put up some resistance for RCB but perished trying to force the issue, much like their illustrious teammates on a pitch that proved harder for the home batsmen to play on. With half the team gone inside 11 overs, there was only going to be one winner.
Pant, Samson tame Lions in Daredevils' highest chase
Records tumbled at the Feroz Shah Kotla as Rishabh Pant's blitzkrieg, well aided by Sanju Samson's blazing 50, helped Delhi Daredevils register their highest successful run-chase with the seven-wicket win over Gujarat Lions. Pant and Samson added a record 143 runs for the second wicket to help the home side keep their IPL 2017 campaign alive and, at the same time, knock Lions out of the playoffs race. Pant missed out on what would have been his maiden IPL hundred by three runs but ensured Daredevils stayed in the hunt throughout, despite a demanding asking rate.
Pune ride Tripathi's fireworks to defeat KKR
Rising Pune Supergiant rode on little-known Rahul Tripathi's career-best 93 of 52 balls to win, by four wickets, an Indian Premier League (IPL) engagement against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens and take giant strides towards the playoffs. Pune, now on 14 points from 11 games, moved to third spot with KKR staying on second with the same number of points as Pune from 11 outings. Replying to KKR's 155/8, Pune scored 158/6 in 19.2 overs.
Tripathi, who is playing his first IPL, brought up his fifty in just 23 deliveries with eight fours and three sixes. The Maharashtra batsman went from strength to strength after his half-century spanking chinaman Kuleep Yadav for three sixes on the trot in the 13th over.
It's not over for Delhi yet
The Delhi Daredevils finally came to the party, ensuring they lived to fight another day in this IPL season as they beat Hyderabad by six wickets. After the humiliating loss to Kings XI Punjab earlier, there appeared to be an all-round improvement in Delhi's batting department, ensuring that they managed to chase down a 186-run target against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Ferozeshah Kotla. This was Delhi's first win after having lost five matches in a row. Leading by example, Delhi captain Karun Nair (39 off 20 deliveries) played some exquisite shots to built a solid foundation while chasing the daunting total. His innings also ensured that the asking rate didn't go beyond control after Sanju Samson got out on 24. Momentum was in favour of Sunrisers after an impressive 70 from Yuvraj Singh but local lad Rishabh Pant (34 off 20 balls) displayed some fearless stroke-making to make Delhi believe they could chase the total down.
