A late cameo by Eoin Morgan and a timely knock by opener Shikhar Dhawan helped Sunrisers Hyderabad post a challenging 201/4 in 20 overs against Rajasthan Royals in their Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter at the Brabourne Stadium here on Thursday.
Morgan struck a blistering 63 off 28 balls, with four fours and five sixes, while Dhawan, at the start of the innings, hit 54 off 35 balls, which included six fours and two sixes. For Royals, skipper Shane Watson (1/14) was the pick of the bowlers.
Put in to bat, Sunrisers got off to a cracking start with openers David Warner and Dhawan scoring at over 10 runs an over but all-rounder Watson worked wonders for the home side in the fifth over.
After captain Warner (24; 18b, 5x4) struck Watson for two boundaries on first two balls, he tried to make it three in a row but failed as an edge carried comfortably to wicketkeeper Sanju Samson with the Sunrisers at 48.
Incoming batsman Moises Henriques struck 20 off 21 balls, striking three boundaries but soon perished in the 10th over, off 43-year-old spinner Pravim Tambe. Trying to back away towards leg to slog, a fast delivery from Tambe cramped Henriques for room, leaving to him getting bowled in the 11th over.
But the wickets didn't worry Dhawan as he and Morgan kept on scoring freely, hitting the ball to all parts of the ground. Dhawan unleashed some fearsome shots off his willow en route his innings. But while trying to accelerate in the 15th over, Dhawan missed and bowler James Faulker rattled his stumps.
Morgan, who reached 50 in 23 balls, went for a six but found Steve Smith at long-off off Watson. But the damage was already done. Ravi Bopara (17 not out) and Naman Ojha (8 not out) remained unbeaten for Sunrisers.