Bhuvneshwar Kumar's sensational five-wicket haul on a slow home deck saved Hyderabad from a consecutive third defeat.

Most of the teams succumb to their ability to defend low scores, unless it is Hyderabad. Skipper David Warner’s unbeaten 70 off 54 and Afghan duo’s brilliant comeback after starting overs, sealed a five run victory for the defending champions despite Punjab’s Manan Vhora scored a brilliant 95 off 50 balls.

The match was Hyderabad’s third win this season and it could not have come at a better time to boost their confidence after two away defeats to Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders.

Batting first after losing the toss, Hyderabad struggled for momentum on a wicket that aided slower bowlers, but the fourth wicket partnership between Warner and Naman Ohja 34 off 24 balls added 60 runs to total that helped the team reached 159 for six.

Kings XI got their first shock when Hasim Amla was trapped in front by Bhuvenshwar’s first ball. Their batting line-up had the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Eoin Morgan and David Miller. The Kings XI skipper Maxwell threatened to break free before Bhuvenshwar got rid of him.

Amla's opening partner Manan Vohra was a mute spectator as Hyderabad wreaked havoc at the other end. Mohammad Nabi, Barinder Sran and Sidharth Kaul being the other two changes SRH made, went for ten in his first, but came back to get rid of Morgan, while Rashid, who went for 19, including three wides, in his first, struck twice in his second over to get rid of David Miller and Wriddhiman Saha, who had a hand in four of the six SRH dismissals earlier in the night.

Vohra refused to give up as he went on to score 95 off 50 balls, making sure that Kings XI were in the hunt. Rashid's fourth over went for 21 as the 15th and 16th overs yielded 41 runs.

Visitors needed just 11 off the last over, but finished at 154/9 with Kaun, in his first match this season, holding his nerve remarkably well.

AMandeep