Jonny Bairstow played a composed knock to steer the Sunrisers Hyderabad to their first victory in this year’s IPL with a comfortable nine-wicket win over the Punjab Kings on Wednesday.
The Englishman wielded his willow more conservatively with 63 off 56 deliveries as the Sunrisers chased down the fairly small target of 121 set by the Punjab Kings.
Batting first, KL Rahul’s charges were undone by a clinical Sunrisers bowling performance with Khaleel Ahmed leading from the front.
The paceman bagged figures of 3-21 in his four-over spell as the Sunrisers dismissed Punjab for only 120.
Bairstow and captain David Warner got the ball rolling for what seamed like an easy chase, putting on 73 for the opening stand.
Warner, who turned aggressor early on, fell for 37 but Bairstow remained focused and brought up a half-century that put the Sunrisers on top.
Kane Williamson (16) helped at the other end to see the Sunrisers over the line with eight balls to spare in the innings.
