Sunrisers Hyderabad eliminate KKR

Sunrisers Hyderabad knocked out Kolkata Knight Riders with a 22-run victory in the eliminator of the Indian Premier League at Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi yesterday. The David Warner-led side, who were put into bat by KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir, posted a middling score of 162 in their allotted 20 overs. However, KKR's reply never looked threatening as the two-time former champions kept losing wickets at regular intervals in face of some disciplined bowling from Sunrisers' pace-battery.

Even though Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman didn't get a wicket, he was quite economical, conceding only 28 runs in his four-over spell. He ripped in a few yorkers and well disguised slower deliveries in his second spell as KKR's chase was stifled. Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, however, played the key role in stifling the run-chase, taking three wickets for only 19 runs.

Australian all-rounder Moises Henriques, who was later adjudged player-of-the-match for his all-round display, took two wickets for 17 runs after having scored a 21-ball 31 to help Sunrisers Hyderabad post 162. Yuvraj Singh was the top-scorer with a fluid 30-ball 44, which featured eight boundaries and a six.

KKR's young spinner Kuldeep Yadav scalped three wickets for 35 runs. Bangladeshi all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan had to sit out the match as KKR made two changes from the side which had beaten the same opposition in Kolkata three days ago.

Sunrisers Hyderabad will take on Gujarat Lions in the second qualifier tomorrow for a place in the final.

SCORES IN BRIEF
SUNRISERS HYDERABAD: 162 for 8 (Yuvraj 44, Henriques 31; Kuldeep 3-35)
KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS: 140 for 8 (Pandey 36, Gambhir 28; Bhuvaneshwar 3-19, Mustafizur 0-28)
Result: SRH won by 22 runs
Player-of-the-match: Moises Henriques