IPL: Aiden Markram shines as Sunrisers Hyderabad pip Chennai Super Kings
Aiden Markram struck a brisk half-century as Sunrisers Hyderabad overcame some late jitters to beat Chennai Super Kings by six wickets in the Indian Premier League on Friday.
The South African batsman hit four fours and a six in his 50-run knock to help Hyderabad overhaul Chennai's below-par total of 165-5 with 11 balls to spare at the packed Rajiv Gandhi International stadium.
The victory lifted Hyderabad to fifth place in the 10-team competition with two wins from four games.
Chennai, led by the charismatic Mahendra Singh Dhoni, suffered their second defeat in the Twenty20 tournament and are third.
«When we bowled, the first 10 overs or so, it (the ball) was coming on alright but it got tougher,» said Markram.
«So we took it on in the first 10 overs and were in a good position later.»
Chennai skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad said his batsmen failed to capitalise in the last five overs and put up a bigger total.
«It was a slow pitch. At the back end they bowled well,» he said.
«We were in a good situation halfway but they bowled well at the back.»
Hyderabad made a flying start with opener Abhishek Sharma hammering 27 runs including three sixes and two fours in the second over by Mukesh Choudhary.
But his heroics were cut short by Deepak Chahar who had Sharma caught by Ravindra Jadeja for 37.
Markram then steadied the innings with his well-composed knock off 36 balls before being trapped leg before by England's Moeen Ali.
Ali then struck again in his next over to remove Shahbaz Ahmed (18), stunning the home crowd
