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Eoin Morgan, Shikhar Dhawan fire Sunrisers Hyderabad to 201/4 vs Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2015

Eoin Morgan and Shikhar Dhawan slammed brilliant half-centuries to power Sunrisers Hyderabad to 201 for four in the 41st match.

Eoin Morgan scored 28-ball 63 © IANS (File photo)
Eoin Morgan scored 28-ball 63 © IANS (File photo)

Eoin Morgan and Shikhar Dhawan slammed brilliant half-centuries to power Sunrisers Hyderabad to 201 for four in the 41st match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2015 tournament against Rajasthan Royals, at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday. LIVE CRICKET BLOG: RR vs SRH IPL 2015 Match 41

Morgan scored 63 off just 28 balls while Dhawan scored 54 off 35 balls with the help of six boundaries and two sixes as for the first time it looked like SRH batsmen had found their mojo in this IPL. LIVE CRICKET SCORES: RR vs SRH IPL 2015 Match 41 at Mumbai

Morgan’s innings was the highlight of the SRH innings, with the left-handed finally getting runs after months of embarrassment. His quickfire knock of 63 runs off 28 balls had as many as five sixes and four boundaries.

The Sunrisers Hyderabad batsmen played with greater intent on a hot and humid afternoon in Mumbai, with their skipper David Warner leading the attack despite battling a stiff back. Warner took treatments on the field but he was the one inspired Sunrisers to a good start.

Rajasthan erred by giving the new ball to Deepak Hooda on a green top wicket, and Sunrisers Hyderabad started off with three fours in the first over wherein the bowler did not get any turn. The highlight of Sunrisers’ positive start was the fact that both their openers went for their strokes, not thinking about possible failures.

The second over brought them five runs and the third got them 10, when Dhawal Kulkarni was smashed for two fours by Shikhar Dhawan. It was only in the fifth over that Rajasthan made their first breakthrough, when Shane Watson, after being hit for two consecutive fours, had Warner caught behind.

Warner faced 18 balls and slammed five boundaries to score 24 runs. He added 48 runs for the first wicket with Dhawan.

Sunrisers promoted Moises Henriques early in their batting order, but the move did not do wonders for them. The only impact which the right-hander created was by hitting two fours off Kulkarni in the 10th over, as he was cleaned up in the next over by Pravin Tambe for 20 off 21 balls.

On the other hand, Dhawan continued to score freely as he brought up his half-century off the 33rd ball he faced in the innings. Rajasthan handed the ball to Hooda in the 14th over and Dhawan made most of the opportunity, hitting a six on the leg side and then a four by reverse-sweeping the final ball of the over. Sunrisers added 17 runs from the over.

Morgan opened up with a couple of few good hits and then in the 16th over, he clobbered two sixes and a four to help SRH add 18 runs in the over. The left-handed batsmen got a four with a misfield from Hooda in the second ball of the 17th over, and then a six down the ground off Morris followed by a smart stroke past the short third man. Morgan’s innings ended in the 18th over, when Morgan ended up hitting straight to Steven Smith at long on.

Shane Watson was the only Rajasthan bowler who was able to make any impact. Watson claimed two wickets for 36 runs on a wicket that looks perfect to batting. However, Watson and his side will be very disappointed with their fielding, as they let go of many boundaries in a quick outfield.

Earlier, Rajasthan Royals captain Shane Watson won the toss and elected to field. Rajasthan brought in Chris Morris and Pravin Tambe in place of Tim Southee and Rajat Bhatia. On the other hand, Sunrisers Hyderabad brought in Ishant Sharma for Bipul Sharma and Ravi Bopara for Dale Steyn.

Brief scores:

Sunrisers Hyderabad 201 for 4 in 2o overs (Shikhar Dhawan 54, Eoin Morgan 63; Shane Watson 2 for 36) vs Rajasthan Royals

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(Devarchit Varma is a reporter with CricketCountry. He can be followed on Twitter @Devarchit)

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