3 positives for RR from their loss against SRH

The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) defeated the Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 4 wickets in an epic last-ball finish. With the result, SRH climbed to the 9th spot, while RR are placed 4th in the points table.

Batting first, RR posted a mighty total of 214/2 at the end of their 20 overs. The RR batting effort was led by half-centuries from Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson. Yashasvi Jaiswal (35 runs off 18 balls) also played a fine cameo for his side. It was a poor day with the ball for SRH, as none of their bowlers troubled the RR batters.

In reply, SRH relied on a team effort by Anmolpreet Singh (33 runs off 25 balls), Abhishek Sharma (55 runs off 34 balls), Rahul Tripathi (47 runs off 29 balls), Heinrich Klassen (26 runs off 12 balls), Glenn Phillips (25 runs off 7 balls), and Abdul Samad (17 runs off 7 balls).

It was a dramatic game as five runs were needed off the final ball, and Abdul Samad holed out at long-off. However, Sandeep Sharma had overstepped, and Samad hit a six off the free-hit to win the match for his side.

It was a heartbreaking loss for RR, who would have felt that they had done enough to emerge on the right side of the result. On that note, let us take a look at three positives for RR from their loss against SRH.

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#1 Jos 'bosses around' again

Jos Buttler fell agonizingly close to a well-deserved century. The English opener, who struck 95 runs off 59 balls, fell in the 19th over of the innings to a brilliant yorker by Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

It was a welcome return to form for Buttler, as he looked a bit out of sorts in the last few games for RR after a blazing start to the season. Buttler hit 10 boundaries and four maximums in a knock that came at a strike rate of 161.02.

In 11 matches this year, Buttler has struck 392 runs at an average of 39.30 and a strike rate of 143.59. Buttler, who last year equaled Virat Kohli's 2016 record of scoring four centuries in a season, will want to finish the season on a high by taking his team into the playoffs on the back of his swashbuckling batting.

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#2 Sanju Samson plays a captain's knock

Sanju Samson complimented Buttler to perfection as he scored an unbeaten half-century. The RR captain struck 66 runs off just 38 balls at a strike rate of 173.68. Like Buttler, he too was not among the runs after a fine start to the season.

However, along with seasoned pro Buttler, he put on a 138-run second wicket stand that propelled his side to a total in excess of 200. He hit four boundaries and five sixes in his aggressive inning.

In 11 matches this year, he has scored 308 runs at an average of 30.80 and a strike rate of 154.77. Additionally, he has stroked three half-centuries this season. The skipper will be hoping to lead from the front to take his side into the 'Top 4'.

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#3 Yuzvendra Chahal spins a web around the opposition

Yuzvendra Chahal was the only RR bowler apart from Ravichandran Ashwin who managed to not just contain but trouble the SRH batters. In a match where a target of 215 runs was chased down, he gave away just 29 runs in his 4 overs at an economy rate of 7.25.

He scalped four wickets, dismissing Anmolpreet Singh, Rahul Tripathi, Heinrich Klassen, and Aiden Markram. He bowled 2 of his 4 overs in this spell and picked up all his wickets except Singh in this phase.

In the 18th over of the innings, he gave away just 3 runs and dismissed Markram and Tripathi. He thought he had done enough to make his side cross the line, but unfortunately, he ended up on the losing side.

In 11 matches this year, he has picked up 17 wickets at an economy rate of 8.08. He is 5th in the Purple Cap race. RR's 'Spin Twins," Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, will have to continue their fine display in the middle overs to help RR win three out of their next three games to make it to the Playoffs.