NEW DELHI, India, CMC – West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo bowled a poor penultimate over and Australian star David Warner capitalised, to propel Sunrisers Hyderabad into the final of the Indian Premier League with an exciting four-wicket victory over Gujarat Lions in the final playoff game here yesterday.
Chasing 163 for victory at the Feroz Shah Kotla, Sunrisers reached their target with four balls to spare, with captain and opener Warner stroking a sublime, unbeaten 93.
The game was in the balance with Sunrisers requiring 24 runs at the start of the 19th over but Bravo conceded 19 runs, to squander any advantage Lions had. Up until then, the Trinidadian had bowled superbly to grab two for 13 for his first three overs of medium pace.
But Warner smashed the first and fourth deliveries for off-side boundaries as Bravo provided generous room outside off-stump, and Bipul Sharma virtually secured the result when he carted the final delivery of the over for a straight six.
With five needed from the last over, Warner punched the first two balls to the square boundary to achieve victory.
All told, Warner struck 11 fours and three sixes off 58 balls, an innings that rallied Sunrisers after they slumped to 84 for five in the 13th over.
Bravo finished with two for 32 while fellow West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Smith was expensive, taking one for 29 from two overs of medium pace.
Earlier, Bravo hit a cameo 20 off 10 deliveries with four fours to help Lions get up to 162 for seven off their 20 overs, after they were sent in.
Australian Aaron Finch top-scored with 50 off 32 balls while New Zealander Brendon McCullum struggled for 32 off 29 deliveries.
Smith, batting at number six, made just one before cutting a long hop from Aussie seamer Ben Cutting to Shikhar Dhawan at point, at 83 for five in the 13th over.
Sunrisers will now take on Chris Gayle’s Royal Challengers Bangalore in tomorrow’s final.
