Hyderabad: Having improved its play-off chances following three consecutive wins, Sunrisers Hyderabad bowling coach Muttiah Muralitharan said the team needs to keep up the momentum to ensure its place in the last four stage of the ongoing Indian Premier League.
Sunrisers pulled off a close five-run win over Kings XI Punjab last night to jump to the third position in the points table with 14 points from 12 games.
And with just two more games to go against Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians, Muralitharan feels Sunrisers are just one win away from sealing its place in the play-offs.
“We have been winning in the last 3-4 matches. We have the momentum with us. It’s all about momentum and we need to keep this going,” Muralitharan told reporters after the win over Kings XI last night.
“I think it’s very good at the moment because we have two more matches. If we can win one, we can be through to the play-offs,” he said. Sunrisers’ remaining two matches are at home and Muralitharan said it augurs well for the team.
“It’s an advantage for us. We know the wicket so we can field the team as per combination,” he said. Sunrisers scored a close win over Kings XI last night with David Miller going berserk with a blistering 89 runs off 44 balls. But the South African’s knock failed to take his side home.
“IPL is all about close wins because every team has got very good players. What matters is results it doesn’t matter whether you win by one run or two runs. At the end of the day, you need points to qualify,” Muralitharan said.
(PTI)

Asked to compare the knocks by Sunrisers skipper David Warner (81 off 51 balls) and Miller, Muralitharan said: “I think they were great knocks from Warner and Miller. Everyone knows that Miller is dangerous. Warner’s knock helped us put up a big total.”
Meanwhile, a disappointed Miller said Kings XI lacked consistency in this year’s IPL.
“I think Twenty20 can witness up and downs. We were very consistent last year. A couple of guys did very well last year. But this year, I think it’s not really clicking. We are trying hard. It’s disappointing to have won just two matches,” he said.

Former Sri Lanka
opening batsman Malinda
Warnapura has been named as
head coach at his old school St.
Peter’s College.
He is initially working with the
Under-17 team for the match
against St. Joseph’s College
which begins on 7 May and then
will move on to coach the first
eleven side.
Warnapura earlier coached
Bloomfield Cricket Club for two
seasons before undertaking one
of the leading schools in the
capital.
Speaking to Kit sports,
Warnapura said: “It’s a privilege
to work with my old school.
There are so many expectations
to look forward to in the school
matches, especially because I am
an old boy of St. Peter’s College,
and I am looking forward to these
challenges.”
Warnapura Captained St.
Peter’s College in the 1998 season
and made a power-packed 159 in
the big match, and also scored the
first century in the one day match
against St. Joseph’s College in
that same year. He played 14 Tests
and three ODIs for Sri Lanka.
He made his highest first class
score of 242 playing for Sri Lanka
‘A’ against Bangladesh ‘A’ in 2007.
He replaces Keerthi Gunaratne,
who coached the Peterites for
many seasons.