Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Pat Cummins gave credit to the batting duo of Heinrich Klaasen and Shahbaz Ahmed after their narrow four-run loss against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on Saturday. Klaasen got the Orange Army back into the contest after the visitors were 145-5 after 16.5 in the run-chase of 209 runs.
The South African smashed eight maximums in his blistering knock of 63 runs off just 29 balls. SRH was almost out of the contest at one stage but Klaasen’s blistering knock kept them afloat.
Furthermore, Ahmed scored a fine cameo of 5-ball 16 to give support to Klaasen. However, both Ahmed and Klaasen were dismissed by Harshit Rana in the final over when 13 runs were required.
Klaasen and Ahmed added 58 runs off just 16 balls and kept the fans on the edge of their seats.
Pat Cummins said in the post-match presentation, “It’s one of those, goes one way or the other, amazing job by Klaas (Klaasen) and Shahbaz to get us back into the game and get us into that position. Who would have thought we’d get that close. Unfortunately a little bit too much. In a game where we didn’t really pull it all together, we still almost competed against a very good side at their home venue, lots to be encouraged by, lot of good performers, a couple of points to work on also. Happy with how the toss went.”
Earlier in the match, Andre Russell took the SRH bowlers to the cleaners as he smashed a whirlwind knock of 64 runs off just 25 balls. Cummins admitted it is tough to contain the West Indian when he is in full swing.
Cummins concluded, “Close game in the end, a wonderful game of cricket. Unfortunately didn’t go our way. I thought for the most part, really happy with how we bowled. Dre Russ at the end there does what Dre Russ does, he’s pretty hard to contain. Overall, I thought we did a pretty good job. You do your planning, you try to execute your best but a pretty tough guy to bowl to, played some good shots and, couple of balls maybe we could have bowled a little bit differently but the toughest job in cricket is bowling at someone like that in the end.”
Sunrisers Hyderabad will next host Mumbai Indians at their home ground in Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on Wednesday.
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