CHENNAI, India — Sunrisers Hyderabad qualified for the Indian Premier League playoffs after Ishan Kishan anchored them to a five-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings on Monday.
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Hyderabad’s win also ensured Gujarat Titans a place in the four-team playoffs. Defending champion and league leader Royal Challengers Bengaluru were already through, meaning only one place remained to be filled in the knockouts.
Five-time champion Chennai was still in contention but needing to beat Gujarat in its last league match on Thursday and other results to go in its favor.
Hyderabad, playing its first game after a week’s rest, cruised to 181-5 with an over to spare as Kishan scored a breezy 70 off 47 balls and Heinrich Klaasen mastered spin with a knock of 47 off 26 deliveries.
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Chennai made 180-7, struggling against the variations of the Hyderabad fast bowlers: Captain Pat Cummins led with 3-28 with backup from Sakib Hussain’s 2-34 and Eshan Malinga’s 1-26.
On a slow pitch, Chennai was well served by Dewald Brevis (44) and Kartik Sharma (32) scoring at a healthy rate in the middle overs.
But they were overshadowed by Hyderabad’s Kishan and Klaasen, who was dropped on 18. The pair combined for 75 for the third wicket until Klaasen was stumped. But Kishan batted on to six runs from victory.
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