IPL 2020: Shubhman Gill’s special powers KKR to a seven-wicket victory over SRH


IPL 2020: Shubhman Gill’s special powers KKR to a seven-wicket victory over SRH

Shubhman Gill

Shubhman Gill

Shubhman Gill’s heroics at Sheikh Zayed Stadium has helped KKR earn their first points in IPL 2020. They beat SRH by 7 wickets on Saturday.

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After losing 3 wickets for 53, while pursuing a 142-run total, Shubhman Gill and Eoin Morgan stitched a 92-run partnership to help KKR romp home. Gill scored 70 off 62 balls, while Eoin Morgan amassed 42 off 29 balls.

On a second consecutive time, Sunil Narine fell cheaply. He got out without opening his account in the second over of the innings. Shubhman Gill and Nitish Rana led the recovery. The duo scored runs at a great pace as they accumulated 43 runs in just 4.4 overs.

Nitish Rana, who was playing at a strike rate of 200, unfortunately, got out after making 26 off 13 balls. He hit six fours during his 26-run knock. Skipper, Dinesh Karthik stayed for just 3 balls before Rashid Khan got him leg before. What followed was a terrific partnership between Gill and Morgan which eventually sealed the game for KKR.

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KKR restricts SRH to 142 in 20 overs:

Earlier, a disciplined bowling display from KKR restricted SRH to a below par total of 142 in 20 overs in the first innings. SRH’s successful opening pair of Jonny Bairstow and David Warner started off the innings decently. However, the bowlers didn’t let the pair shift their gears. Pat Cummins has perhaps made all his critics shut after displaying a sensational spell of four overs. The Australian seamer got rid of Jonny Bairstow early after making just 5 runs.

David Warner and Manish Pandey steadied the ship and put on a decent partnership before Varun Chakravarthy accounted for the wicket of David Warner for 36. Warner’s wicket was crucial for KKR as it had a drastic effect on SRH’s run-rate.

Manish Pandey played a great knock of 51 runs off 38 balls, while W Saha amassed 30 off 31 balls. The duo helped the team reach 142-run total in 20 overs. A tight display of bowling in the middle, as well as slog overs, meant the batsmen couldn’t score runs at the rate that they would have liked.