An interesting IPL 2016 match looms large as Kings XI Punjab host Sunrisers Hyderabad at PCA Stadium in Mohali on Sunday. SRH have been a quality side in the competition, but Kings XI Punjab have been below par.
Both teams have some brilliant individual stars, but Kings XI Punjab players have failed to deliver. On the contrary, SRH players — especially their bowlers and openers — have stood tall when required.
Here is a look at how the IPL 2016 game might transpire:
If SRH bat first: David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan get going with some incredible fours and sixes, as they pile 52 runs in the first six overs. They continue their impressive scoring as Warner takes the aggressor's role, dealing in boundaries. However, he loses his wicket in the ninth over. And things do not go according to plan as Dhawan and Kane Williamson are out in the 12th over. With the score reading 92 for 3, Yuvraj Singh and Moises Henriques use their willow to hit Kings XI Punjab bowlers all around the park. The two batsmen power SRH to 170 runs in 20 overs.
Murali Vijay is out in the first over, which immediately puts KXIP on the backfoot. Though Hashim Amla and Wriddhiman Saha look comfortable at the batting crease, the run rate is always increasing. To make things worse, Amla is also gone. Glenn Maxwell spanks a few ball for huge sixes, and the hopes are alive for the home fans, but the Australian is out for 31 runs. Tight bowling from Mustafizur Rahman and other bowlers in the middle and death overs pressure the Kings XI batsmen, who fall short of the target by 35 runs.
If KXIP bat first: Vijay and Amla are cautious to begin with, but subsequently start to play their shots. Amla looks in ominous touch as he scores four boundaries in Barinder Sran's over. They reach 53 in six overs, but both openers are back in the dugout in the ninth over. Maxwell, who has not been impressive so far, looks in great form, and scores runs in boundaries. Despite the wicket of Saha, Maxwell plays his shots and brings up his 50. Maxwell and Gurkeerat Singh look in killer mood now, and score 60 runs in the last five overs, to take KXIP to 180 runs in the first innings.
Warner and Shikhar go beserk, and are enjoying their time in the middle as they seem to be enjoying the massive target set by KXIP. They score 78 runs in the first six overs, which makes the task much easier, and they need to score 103 runs in 14 overs. Warner seems to be in a hurry to finish the game, as he takes on Kings XI Punjab bowlers, who look helpless. KXIP take two back-to-back wickets, but it is too late as Yuvraj hits the winning runs in the 17th over.
