After collecting just three runs from the first over, David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan then clobbered the Kings XI Punjab attack with gusto. While the opening pair spared no bowler as they rampaged at over ten runs an over in a 107-run stand, Kane Williamson flourished at the end to help the Sunrisers Hyderabad post a daunting 207 for three.  

Speaking about his partnership with David Warner, Dhawan said, “We both were playing smart (yet) aggressive cricket. That was our plan; in the last few games although we were playing well, our run rate was a bit low (slow). So we decided today to go and express ourselves more (freely). We backed our abilities.”

“I am used to batting with David Warner. I am playing with him for two-three seasons now, so we know each other’s game and our running between the wickets is also very good. Today we were attacking. It was a good pitch; we wanted to make it big and that’s what happened,” he added.

Asked if the batting depth that SRH has, with the likes of Yuvraj Singh, Moises Henriques and Williamson slated to bat in the middle order, helpsthe openers bat freely, Dhawan agreed and added, “When you have a good batting side – and in this tournament (when you see) everyone is firing – so then you play with a free hand and that gives the team more advantage.”

Williamson, who came to the crease after the departure of Warner, built on the platform with an unbeaten 27-ball 54. Speaking about his not taking the foot off the pedal, Williamson said, “The openers got off to a great start; that partnership set a platform to get a good first innings total, which we were fortunate to be able to get. I suppose with the batting depth that we have it was important to try and get in and increase the run rate as best as we could. (With) The likes of Yuvraj, Moises [Henriques] coming in as well, it was important that we looked to do that.  We were fortunate today to get such a good first innings total, which to be fair, we needed all of them (the runs)because on a very good batting surface Punjab came very close.”

Explaining his role in the SRH line-up, which ispacked with power-hitters,Williamson said, “The role can change depending on the situation in T20 cricket. Today it was nice to get off to a good start; Davy [David Warner] and Shikhar played superbly and really set the foundation for the guys coming to try and play cameos to help us get us to an above-par score. It was a very good effort by the batting unit and really well done by the bowlers on a good surface with a fast outfield.”

Elaborating on the innings he said, “After thelast time-out, we wanted to get above 200 runs if we could. There were some tough overs and we had to suck it up a little.But to form those partnerships throughout was really important to get to that score.”

“There are times when you need to soak it up a little bit, but with the openers batting for about ten overs with a run rate of over ten runs per over meant that we needed to see how many we could get and play the situation the best we could. After such a good start from the openers, it was important that we do that,” the No. 3 batsman explained how SRH had assessed and reassessed what would be a good target to set.

“As a team goal, we always say that one of the top four batsmen has to stay till the end because then that gives a huge advantage to the batting side.And so that’s what we plan and try to implement,” Dhawan explained while giving an insight into SRH’s strategy for setting up a solid total.  

Speaking about his stand with Dhawan and the opener’s swashbuckling knock, Williamson said, “He is a great player. And today he showed all class. Today he came out really aggressively as you need to do in this format; he was very dominant today and was batting so beautifully, which I suppose made my job easier when I was to come out and get myself in. Hopefully we can continue that.From a batting unit (perspective), our bowlers have been brilliant for this whole competition so far and very good at closing out games. It would be nice to keep this momentum.”