18.10.2020, 15:30 IST
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
With all teams being done with 8 games at the time of writing, the table is shaping up for a tense finish for the last two playoff spots. The more contested of those is currently occupied by Kolkata Knight Riders. They were doing much better earlier on, but two straight losses have now put their qualification at risk. The only good thing for them is that the four teams below them have also been pretty bad this season. Of these four, the best-off is Sunrisers Hyderabad, and that is who they face next. Although clearly full of issues themselves, SRH have shown some glimmers of goodness that led them this far. Like KKR, though, they also come in on the back of two straight losses. It will be a fight to the death for fourth place, which SRH’s better run rate will ensure them should they win. Before the bell sounds for this tight fight, let’s take a look at the teams.
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Sunrisers Hyderabad Preview & Form
Things have been pretty miserable for SRH since the start of the campaign, but they are at their worst point now. Three wins and as many losses was bad, but five losses from the first eight matches is very difficult to overcome. In their last game, Chennai Super Kings racked up a decent 167 through moderate-to-good contributions by five batsmen. In retaliation, Only Kane Williamson seemed to be trying to win the match. Everyone else either couldn’t go on for long or just wasted deliveries. In the end, SRH were restricted to 147. As usual, it was their batting that let them down, and it’s their batting that they need to improve.
Kolkata Knight Riders Preview & Form
It’s hard to have a bogey team that you just can’t seem to find a win against, but when that team is the defending champion, perhaps it becomes a little more palatable. Either way, KKR’s last match against Mumbai Indians was a comprehensive defeat. Choosing to bat first, they had a horrific start which was slow and scattered with dismissals. Some solid batting by Eoin Morgan and Pat Cummins of all people saw them stagger to 148. MI’s Quinton de Kock, however, wasted no time in smashing the ball all over the park to a thunderous 78 as Mumbai clinched the win with 8 wickets in hand and 19 deliveries to go. KKR’s star players aren’t shining as brightly as they would have hoped, and changes seem to be imminent.
SRH vs KKR Match Prediction
This is going to be tight, but SRH will be fighting hard to come out on top. Expect Jonny Bairstow and Kane Williamson to lead the charge with the bat, while Rashid Khan and Thangarasu Natarajan continue taking wickets.
KKR’s morale will be broken if they lose this one and get overtaken, so they will play their hearts out. Expect Andre Russell to perform both ways, while Eoin Morgan helps him with the bat and Shivam Mavi assists him with the ball.
Can Sunrisers best KKR to take over the fourth spot? Or will KKR move closer to Royal Challengers Bangalore by taking this win? Find out on Sunday!