IPL 2020, RR vs SRH: Pandey, Shankar's Half Tons Lead Hyderabad To 8-Wicket Victory Against Rajasthan

IPL 2020, RR vs SRH: After electing to bowl first, Skipper David Warner-led Sunrisers Hyderabad managed to restrict restrict Steven Smith-skippered Royals to 154-6 runs.

IPL 2020, RR vs SRH: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) beat Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 8 wickets with 1.5 overs to spare in the 40th match of the Indian Premier League Season 13 (IPL 13) played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday. After electing to bowl first, Skipper David Warner-led Sunrisers Hyderabad managed to restrict restrict Steven Smith-skippered Royals to 154-6 runs. SRH managed to score 156 runs for the loss of just 2 wickets in 18.1 overs, bagging the match with eight wickets. Vijay Shankar smashed a boundry to bring up his half-century and the victory for SRH on the last ball of the game. Top partnership between Vijay and Pandey, who remained unbeaten on 83 off 47 led Hyderabad to a much-need victory. The partnership was 140 and remained unbroken. With this win, Sunrisers Hyderabad managed to keep itself in contention for playoffs of IPL 2020.

Half-centuries from @vijayshankar260 (52*) & @im_manishpandey (83*) guide @SunRisers to an 8-wicket win over #RR#Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/2hQSA2ZM2W

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 22, 2020

SRH chased down a target of 155 with 11 balls to spare after surviving the early headway made by a fiery early spell from Jofra Archer (2/21) at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday. Shankar hit a four to take SRH over the line and bring up his half century off the first ball of the 19th and penultimate over of the innings. While Pandey hit eight sixes and four fours while Shankar hit four fours. Archer gave Rajasthan a strong start to their defence, dismissing SRH openers David Warner and Jonny Bairstow in his first two overs. Hyderabad were on 16/2 wickets when Shankar joined Pandey in the middle. Smith took Archer off the attack after which Pandey went on the counter and shifted momentum back his team's way. While Shankar took the role of holding up the other end, he shifted gears after the 12th over and eventually took on Archer himself. Smith decided to let Archer bowl his last over in the 16th and while the England fast bowler had figures of 2/8 wickets at the start of the over, Shankar hit three consecutive fours off him to all but end RR's chances of making a comeback.

A solid 100-run partnership comes up between @im_manishpandey & @vijayshankar260. Will they take #SRH home tonight ?#Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/ovUKQgiKzC

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 22, 2020

Earlier, Holder led the way as SRH restricted RR to 154/6 wickets. Brought in as replacement for the injured Kane Williamson, Holder took the important wickets of Sanju Samson (36), RR captain Steve Smith (19) and the dangerous Riyan Parag (20) and ended the innings with figures of 3/33. Brief scores: RR: 154/6 wickets in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 36, Ben Stokes 30; Jason Holder 3/33) lost to SRH 156/2 wickets in 18.1 overs (Manish Pandey 83 not out, Vijay Shankar 52 not out) by 8 wickets.