IPL preview: SRH middle-order desperately in need of a spine job against KXIP

Time is running out for KXIP. (Source: IPL/BCCI)

KXIP (lost to CSK)

What went wrong: From KXIP skipper George Bailey giving the new ball to Karanveer Singh, which meant that Chennai raced to a brisk start with 47 runs in four overs to Mitchell Johnson dropping two catches and the umpire failing to spot a nick by Suresh Raina in the eighth over – things went out of hand for last year’s finalists. MS Dhoni’s 39 meant that Chennai posted 192 and with Johnson and Axar Patel giving away 75 runs in their eight overs combined, KXIP had a daunting task ahead. KXIP had chased a 190-plus total six times earlier, so they were in with a chance. The fall of Virender Sehwag in the first over and in-from Shaun March early, dented their chances. And with Bailey and David Miller once again falling to spinners, the team lost by 97 runs.

What went right: Medium-pacer Sandeep Singh would have been wiser by the experience of giving away just four runs in the final over of the innings, an effort that helped keep the Chennai total below the physiological 200-run mark. Anureet Singh too made a good comeback after giving away 20 runs in his third over. He conceded 17 in all in his last two.

SRH (lost to mi)

What went wrong: After the bowlers restricted Mumbai Indians to 157 runs, opener Shikhar Dhawan provided the impetus with 42 off just 29 deliveries. But the middle-order let the team down with just two batsmen – KL Rahul and Ravi Bopara – reaching double digits. However, they scored less than a run a ball, not ideal in this format of the game and more so in a scenario where the rest of the batsmen failed to fire. What broke the backbone of the Hyderabad chase was them losing four wickets for the addition of just two runs.
What went right: Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Dale Steyn shared five wickets between themselves. Mumbai were 92 for 2 in 12 overs and looked set to cross 175. But Steyn first removed the well-set Lendl Simmons and then picked up three wickets, including that of hard-hitting Kieron Polard in the last over. Praveen Kumar too bowled a good line in the latter part of the innings and with the Mohali pitch offering pace and bounce, Hyderabad will draw positives from this performance.

Conclusion

With both the teams registering two wins so far in the tournament, they will be keen to get their season on track in order to qualify for the play-offs. Hyderabad would want its middle-order to fire along with Bhuvneshwar and Steyn hitting peak form in the initial overs too. KXIP too would hope that bowlers like Mitchell Johnson and Sandeep Singh take advantage of the bouncy track at Mohali.