Warner commands, Dhawan supports
While David Warner launched a merciless attack on Kolkata Knight Riders' bowlers, Shikhar Dhawan was satisfied with playing an effective supporting role
ESPNcricinfo staff
01-May-2017
David Warner launched a fierce attack against Kolkata Knight Riders • BCCI
David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan are a destructive T20 opening pair because of their contrasting styles: Dhawan prefers to anchor an innings, while Warner likes to dominate bowlers. Against a strong Kolkata Knight Riders bowling line-up, both batsmen executed their roles flawlessly.
"Usually when David attacks, I back off," Dhawan said after Sunrisers Hyderabad's previous game. Warner launched an attack so fierce that he raced away to his half-century off just 20 balls. He took an additional 23 balls to get to his first IPL hundred for Sunrisers. During the onslaught, all Dhawan needed to do was turn over the strike to Warner.
The pair added 139 runs in just 76 balls - of which Dhawan scored 29 - and set the tone for a dominant Sunrisers win. "We keep working around the strike and we've been gelling together over all," Warner said of his partnership with Dhawan at the post-match presentation.