Lofted straight drives, switch hits, slog sweeps, cover drives; David Warner dished out the entire menu at the Rajiv Gandhi Cricket stadium today, playing one of the finest T20 innings in the history of the game.
KKR’s bowling attack was expected to sort out the Warner threat with the variety that he had in their armoury. But Warner ensured that all that talk about KKR’s strong bowling unit went out of the window, when he took the attack to them right from the first over, smacking Woakes, Coulter Nile, Narine and Kuldeep to all parts. Warner has always been a little susceptible to spin, especially when the ball is turning away from him, but he countered that by using his switch hit to perfection, throwing Narine and Kuldeep off their traditional game plans.
What was even more staggering is that Warner managed to bring up his hundred in the 11th over itself, getting to the landmark in a mere 43 balls. He punched the air in his traditional fashion, soaked in all the applause and went about creaming the bowlers to all parts once again.
This is the first time a Sunrisers batsman has scored a hundred and what an emphatic way it was to break the deadlock.
SRH have posted 209 on the board, and if Bhuvi and Rashid ply their trade like they have all season, it is going to be an uphill task even for this deep KKR batting unit. At least two batsmen need to get a score in excess of 70 to even make a case for chasing this down, because it would be very difficult for one batsman to do what Warner did in the first innings.
This is how the world reacted to Warner’s brilliance:
Unbelievable stuff David Warner. Century in only the 11th over. #SRHvKKR
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) April 30, 2017
David Warner scores first Century for Sun risers Hyderabad and he scores against best team of this season…
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) April 30, 2017
Fun Fact: David Warner's batting tonight is directed by SS Rajamouli.
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) April 30, 2017
Just When #IPL Started To Feel Boring, There Comes David #Warner With Explosive Innings.73* Off 32. #SRH – 96/0 8 Overs#KXIPvDD #SRHvKKR pic.twitter.com/tX1ZnZWi22
— Sir Jadeja (@SirJadeja) April 30, 2017
David Warner with that trademark jump!!!!
Absolutely Wonderful!!
Always remember the saying "Catches wins Matches"#100from43— Amal krishnan.k (@amalabhi) April 30, 2017
https://twitter.com/AkhilAkkineni8/status/858703675165900800
More reactions on the next page
David Warner has a strike rate of over 160 at Hyderabad in this season. In the 4 away games he scored at only 129 runs per 100 balls.
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) April 30, 2017
David Warner, you beauty🏏
A 43-ball hundred, joint-fifth fastest ever in #IPL pic.twitter.com/bJQ9jy8MhF
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) April 30, 2017
DAVID WARNER ON 124 WITH 4 OVERS LEFT. #SRHvKKR pic.twitter.com/yn5ntr3KQt
— Cricket Fantasy (@Cricket_Fantasy) April 30, 2017
https://twitter.com/Rekha_Verma93/status/858708427509342208
Wow @davidwarner31 Unbelievable. This is power hitting at its very best 👌
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) April 30, 2017
I know 'that' feeling 😜 https://t.co/jgviBySQA4
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 30, 2017
More reactions on the next page:
Warner 126(59). Rest 83 (61). Don't need to replicate the Warner innings. Do better than the others in the chase
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 30, 2017
SRH's 209/3:
– Their highest total in IPL
– Highest total by any team v KKR#SRHvKKR— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) April 30, 2017
Warner showing the Bahubali fever!! #OrangeChant @SunRisers
— Namita (@NamitaPinky) April 30, 2017
Giving Warner a life could be like signing your own death warrant
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 30, 2017
Those who don't have Warner as captain in their team. #ipl #fantasy pic.twitter.com/r39YbFLQzr
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) April 30, 2017