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Jason Roy scored 60 runs from 42 balls in his debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad
Indian Premier League, Dubai: Rajasthan Royals (164-5/20 overs: Samson 82 (57 ball); Kaul 2-36 Sunrisers Hyderabad (167-3 (18.3overs: Roy 60 (42), Williamson 5* (41) Sunrisers Hyderabad won the Indian Premier League by seven wickets Scorecard, Table
Sunrisers Hyderabad won the Indian Premier League for only the second time in 2021 when Kane Williamson and Jason Roy led them to victory over Rajasthan Royals.
Roy, the England opener, replaced David Warner. He made 60 of 42 balls in his debut for their seven-wicket win.
Williamson, the New Zealand captain, made an unbeaten 51 when they reached Dubai at 167-3 with nine balls left.
The Royals' total of 164-5 was achieved earlier on Captain Sanju Samson's remarkable 82 from just 57 balls.
The Royals needed a win to move up to fourth place in the table and into play-off contention. Samson was caught off Siddarth Kaul by Jason Holder.
However, Rajasthan was restricted by some clever death bowling by the Sunrisers and India seamer Bhuvneshwar Kul towards the end.
From start to finish, it was a slow chase from Hyderabad who are at the bottom of the eight-team table. They cannot reach the playoffs. The Royals remain sixth and must win their remaining four matches to qualify.
Roy leaves his mark before Williamson does.
Sunrisers' pre-match discussions centered on who wasn't playing and not who was.
Australia's star Warner was dismissed after scoring two and nought in his return to IPL. Warner's struggles, which were responsible for providing blistering starts for his team alongside Jonny Bairstow from England, have significantly contributed to the Sunrisers' demise in 2021.
Abhishek Jhunwala, a former IPL player, said that it was a "strange selection" because it is very difficult for any team keep David Warner out of their playing side XI.
"But they have to make hard decisions, and Jason Roy is one of the most attacking batsmen in world cricket, so why don't you give him a few games?"
Roy seized the opportunity to play as Sunrisers reached 63.1-1 in the six-over powerplay. Although he was dropped on 55, Roy's bludgeoning approach was perfectly complemented by Williamson's patience, who played a measured 51 from 41 balls.
Williamson, who needed 50 runs to win the eight overs that Roy had left, was highly respected for his calm approach at the crease and never seemed flustered.
To surpass 50, he broke two boundaries in the 19th over. He also won his side to victory. This was the final win for the Sunrisers after a tough season.
Sanju Samson's run-scoring record of 82 runs from 57 balls places him at the top of the list
Samson shines when he takes the Orange Cap
Samson was not selected for India's T20 World Cup squad, but his performance at this tournament was a clear indication of their incredible depth in this format.
After opener Evin Lewis was injured, Samson took over and added 56 runs to the score. Yashasvi Jaiswal (36) also contributed.
The Sunrisers' bowlers couldn't answer Samson's 360 degree scoring, boldly reverse-sweeping leg spinner Rashid Khan's first over, and hitting sixes with elegance and timing over extra coverage.
Samson's form is crucial as the Royals require four wins from four. Samson is a captain, wicketkeeper and number three batsman. They get their money's worth.
Despite his defeat, Samson now owns the Orange Cap, which is awarded to the top run-scorer of the competition. Shikhar Dhawan, Delhi Capitals, is three runs behind.
