Pant played a special knock- Kane Williamson

Sunrisers Hyderabad became the first to qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2018 after beating Delhi Daredevils by 9 wickets in a run feast contest on Thursday (May 10). It was one such day where Delhi Daredevils were struggling at 52 for 3 at halfway stage before 20-year old Rishabh Pant played a stunning counter-attack. He scored an unbeaten 128 off 63 balls including 15 fours and 7 mighty six.

However, SRH chased down their highest target after Shikhar Dhawan and Kane Williamson's masterful show with bat and put on an unbeaten 176-run stand for the second wicket and saw SRH through the home with more than one over to spare.



Rishabh Pant has been in sensational form throughout this IPL. He is now leading run-getter in this IPL with 521 runs in 11 innings. However, his effort with the bat didn't prove enough as Daredevils has already been out of this tournament.

"It's is very harsh for our team because the pitch played better in the second half due to dew. Happens in cricket sometimes, your bowling unit doesn't click," Pant said while receiving the orange cap.

When he was asked about his knock, he said, "I was just trying to see the ball and hit it cleanly. Took my time early on and things worked out well. Happens, it was a miscommunication (about ran out his partner), I just misjudged the run. It is a part and parcel of the game. After a couple of run outs, I just wanted to take extra responsibility for the team. It was a knock that certainly among my best ones."



On the other hand, Kane Williamson, who is now second highest run-getter with 493 runs in 11 innings, played a big role in this run chase. Je remained unbeaten on 83 off 53 balls including 8 fours and 2 sixes.

"We wanted to go out and keep playing as a team. And we have been playing on tough surfaces, so it was nice to go out and execute our batting plans. It's always tough chasing here. At the halfway mark, we thought it was a tough surface, keeping a touch low perhaps. Pant played a special knock. They had a score above par. Dew played a little part, yes. The wicket was a good surface towards the end. A bit of partnership at the top, which gave us the momentum. We were batting with intent when chasing 180. I think when you are rotating strike the boundaries start to come. It was nice to get that partnership. Shikhar was outstanding, certainly put them on the back foot."

Sunrisers will also be happy to see the way Shikhar Dhawan had played. He had been struggling since the ball hit his elbow earlier this season. However, he came out with all gun and played an unbeaten knock of 92 off 50 balls with the help of 9 fours and 4 sixes. He awarded Man Of The Match for this knock.



"The Gabbar was always there- Yes! He's back. Rishabh played an amazing knock he took the game away from us. But we believed that we'll go in with a positive mindset. I have played lots of cricket over here. I am glad that I scored 92 and I'm looking to score more runs," Dhawan said while receiving Man Of The Match.

It was a third hundred run partnership for SRH, in which Warner wasn't involved. And all three partnerships were built up by Dhawan and Williamson.

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