Pandey, Shankar Pay Their Long Dues To Help Hyderabad Beat Rajasthan

Almost dormant middle-order of Sunrisers Hyderabad erupted well in the 40th game of IPL as they face Rajasthan Royals in a crucial match. Chasing 156, the Sunrisers' openers, Bairstow and Warner, fell prey to Jofra Archer’s beaming deliveries in quick succession. However, Pandey and Shankar chase paid their long dues to SRH in this season with an unbeaten 140-run partnership. Even fiery Jofra could not make a dent to Pandey and Shankar. While Pandey scored 83 runs of 47 balls, Shankar scored run-a-ball half-century. Shankar had also bowled a tight spell of 3 over, giving just 15 odd runs and hunting Rajasthan's in-form Buttler. Earlier, Rajasthan somehow crossed 150 mark with handy knocks coming from couple of players. Stokes and Samson put a fifty-plus-partnership for the second wicket but could not thrust the team's total. With this win, Sunrisers, while increasing their own chances to enter play-offs, kept the hopes alive of few other franchises as well.