IPL 2018, SRH vs RCB: Hits and Misses

#2 Hit: Kane Williamson

Kane Williamson has been brilliant in this IPL.

When David Warner was banned, SRH made Kane Williamson the captain. The New Zealander was not assured of a place if Warner played, but he was the captain and both as captain and as a batsman, he’s been excellent in this IPL.

He’s led from the front with the bat and has carried the SRH batting on his shoulders. He scored three consecutive fifties earlier in the tournament and also got a match-winning 63 against Rajasthan Royals. He got his fifth half-century of this season as he struck a wonderful 56 in this game.

He strode out to bat in the third over of the innings and looked to be in the zone right from the first delivery. He got a freebie first up which he put away to the fine-leg fence and got off the mark. And then with wickets falling around him, the New Zealand skipper put his head down and batted in typical fashion.

He rotated the strike well and pounced on anything loose. And just when the run-rate was dipping, Williamson changed gears. He hit 2 fours and 2 sixes in the span 7 deliveries to give SRH some impetus. However, he fell trying a cheeky sweep shot off Umesh Yadav.

But he had done his job as on a slow pitch, he batted beautifully and made a fine 56 and also climbed to the second spot in the leading run-scorers of this IPL as he became the second batsman to cross the 400-run mark.

And then again, his captaincy was brilliant as he marshalled his troops very well and made some vital bowling changes. He mixed and used his resources well as SRH defended 147.