Rashid Khan produced a match-defining spell to give SunRisers Hyderabad a crucial win over Kings XI Punjab in an IPL 2018 match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on Thursday. It was sweet revenge for the Afghan spinner, who had borne the brunt of a Chris Gayle century when the two team clashed in an earlier game this season at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on April 19. Defending a paltry total of 132, SRH bowled out KXIP for 119 in 19.2 overs to leapfrog their opponents into second place in the IPL 2018 standings.
Rashid was the key instigator to Punjab’s destruction, returning with figures of three for 19 in his four overs.
Twitterati were left buzzing and saluted the Afghan sensation for his performance.
The two teams had clashed in Mohali earlier this season with Gayle’s century helping Punjab register a 15-run win. Rashid was torn apart by the ‘Gaylestorm’ with the leg-spinner registering his most expensive T20 figures of 1/55 in his four overs.
It seemed this time as well Punjab would run away with it. KL Rahul and Chris Gayle gave their team a solid start with a 50-run partnership for the first wicket. Rashid, though, was in the mood and produced a brilliant delivery to send Rahul packing for 32.
That proved to be the key wicket for the home team as Gayle fell three balls later to Basil Thampi, bringing SRH back into the game.
Rashid along with Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, then, went about dismantling the Punjab middle-order and they had great success at that, leaving the visitors tottering at 92 for six in 15.3 overs.
Ashwin tried his level best to keep his team in the chase but Rashid brought about a swift end to his stay to put SRH on the brink.
Basil Thampi took the last wicket of Ankit Rajpoot as Punjab fell well short of their target.
