He looks certain to be named in Australia's squad for the World Cup in West Indies and the United States
Warner masterclass steers Mustafizur-less Hyderabad to pip Gujarat to IPL final
A blazing David Warner knock has guided Sunrisers Hyderabad to a last-over win over Gujarat Lions in the second qualifier and set up a crunch Indian Premier League title clash with Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Published : 27 May 2016, 08:09 PM
Updated : 27 May 2016, 08:18 PM
Playing without their Bangladesh pace ace Mustafizur Rahman for the first time this edition, Hyderabad cemented their place in the final for the first time with a four-wicket win on Thursday.
Gujarat appeared to have the advantage going into the death overs of Hyderabad's chase but Warner (93 not out) and Bipul Sharma (27 off 11) blasted their way to the win with four balls to spare.
Hyderabad had suffered a major blow before the match when Mustafizur was ruled out of the key clash for a 'hamstring niggle'.
Asked to bat first, Gujarat rode on knocks from Brendon McCullum (32) and Aaron Finch (50 off 32) to post a par score of 162-7 at Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi.
Hyderabad gave away 33 runs in the last three overs with no Mustafizur to back them up at the death.
After Sunrisers lost Shikhar Dhawan for a duck early in their chase, their scoring rate hovered around 6-7 halfway into the innings.
To make things worse for Hyderabad, Gujarat bowlers kept chipping away with timely wickets to stem the run flow. But despite the mounting pressure Warner kept his cool at one end.
Barring Warner, Moises Enriques (11) was the only other batsman to reach double figures among the top six.
After Hyderabad were reduced to 84-5 in the 13th over, Warner and Naman Ojha (10) hammered Dwayne Smith for two sixes and a four to up the ante. But Ojha, too, perished in the following over.
Warner was then joined by Sharma and the duo clubbed 46 runs off 21 balls to coast to the victory.
Needing 24 from the last two overs, Warner creamed three fours and a six to put paid to Gujarat's hopes.
The Aussie batsman studded his 58-ball innings with 11 boundaries and three sixes.
He is the second highest run-scorer in this edition with 779 behind Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli (919).
South African master blaster and Kohli's teammate AB de Villiers is in third with 682 runs.
Also Read: Mustafizur injured
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