Malinga, Reddy Star as SRH Defend 194 to Sink CSK in Hyderabad

Malinga’s death overs: Rolled back the years — nailed yorkers, mixed pace, CSK couldn’t get him away. Classic Malinga closing a chase. Nitish Reddy’s impact: Batsman who bowls, but here his overs were gold. Broke CSK’s middle-order rhythm and took key wickets. Defending under-par: 194 at Hyderabad is usually chased. SRH’s bowlers squeezed, varied pace, and used a slower pitch better than CSK’s batters. CSK did everything right… almost: Their lesser-known bowlers executed at the death to drag SRH from a projected 237 down to 194. On that pitch, at that venue, 194 is gettable 8/10 times. Their top order gave them 62/1. Set up perfectly. SRH’s nobodies became somebodies: Chasing 194 with wickets in hand, CSK collapsed. The four SRH bowlers — Malinga leading, Reddy with key middle overs, plus two others who took “the smallest chance” — didn’t bowl like unknowns. They hit yorkers, changed pace, and CSK’s “strong batting line-up” froze. No late surge, no Dhoni finish. Just dot, wicket, dot. Key irony: Both sides were carried by unheralded bowlers. CSK’s ones did their job to restrict. SRH’s ones did theirs to win. The difference: SRH’s chances came later, when pressure was max. CSK needed 84 off 60 balls with seven wickets in hand. They should have pulled off their first 190-plus chase in eight years. But Eshan Malinga (3-29), Nitish Kumar Reddy (2-31), Shivang Kumar (1-18) and Sakib Hossain (1-32) just wouldn't let them. On paper, there were weak links. On the field, there was none. Each of those fours bowlers had an economy rate of 8 or lower and each of them picked up at least one wicket. Shivag dismissed Dewald Brevis for 0. Sakib wrecked Shivam Dube's stumps and killed off all CSK hope. In the end, their contribution to victory was bigger than Abhishek Sharma's 15-ball fifty and Heinrich Klaasen's 33-ball fifty respectively. Sunrisers Hyderabad 194 for 9 (Abhishek 59, Klaasen 59, Kamboj 3-22, Overton 3-37) beat Chennai Super Kings 184 for 8 (Mhatre 34, Malinga 3-29, Reddy 2-31) by 10 runs