Sunrisers Hyderabad end Gujarat Titans' unbeaten start to IPL

Sunrisers Hyderabad chased down 162 with five balls to spare thanks to a half-century from captain Kane Williamson and a brisk 18-ball 34 from Nicholas Pooran

Pune: Gujarat Titans 162-7, Sunrisers Hyderabad 168-2 – Sunrisers Hyderabad won by eight wickets

Scorecard

Gujarat Titans tasted defeat for the first time after losing to Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets in Pune.

The franchise, one of two new teams for 2022, were on a three-match unbeaten run after defeating Lucknow Super Giants, Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings.

Batting first, Titans skipper Hardik Pandya scored a 42-ball half-century to help his side recover from 64 for 3 at the eight-over mark to post 162 for 7.

The India international enjoyed a productive 40-run partnership (33 balls) with David Miller before being joined by the quick-scoring Abhinav Manohar (35 off 21) following the South African’s departure. Together, they put on 50 runs off 32 balls to push their side beyond 150.

^{Kane Williamson scored a half-century}

However, three late wickets ensured Sunrisers Hyderabad finished the innings on a high. Washington Sundar’s economical 0 for 14 was the pick of the bowling, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Marco Jansen, T Natarajan and Umran Malik were the wicket-takers.

In reply, Kane Williamson produced a steady half-century to keep his side’s chase on course but when Rahul Tripathi retired hurt in the 14th over, they still needed 59 runs from 41 balls.

Williamson and Nicholas Pooran then added 25 runs off the next three overs before the West Indies international burst into life, smashing 26 runs off just 10 balls as part of a match-winning fourth-wicket stand with Aiden Markram to see Sunrisers home with five balls to spare.

Williamson top-scored for his side with 57 runs off 46 deliveries while Pooran finished unbeaten on 34 off 18 balls.

After recording back-to-back wins for the first time since 2020, Sunrisers are now level on points with Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings, and just two points outside the top four.