Masterful Warner sets up RCB showdown

Match in a tweet:  Davey Warner you superstar! Warner’s herculean innings of 93no propels Hyderabad into the IPL final

The result:  Gujarat Lions 7-162 (20) lost to Sunrisers Hyerabad 6-163 (19.2) by four wickets with four balls remaining

The hero:  David Warner is already a superstar of the modern game but his performances during this Indian Premier League season have the hallmark of genius about them. While Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers have been outstanding, they have complemented each other for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Warner has done it alone for Sunrisers Hyderabad all season long, and this qualifying final was no different. The pocket-dynamo single-handedly destroyed the Lions attack to lead a masterful chase of 163 by remaining unbeaten on 93 from 58 balls. 

With the Lions bowlers attacking the leg-stump line Warner had the class to handle it and pierce the gaps through the off-side. Starting with a delightful flick off his pads for a first-ball boundary, Warner then got into the groove by cleverly manoeuvring the ball and continuing to find the boundary with regularity. While the required run-rate reached 11 an over, Warner first smashed the dangerous Shivil Kaushik out of the park to reach his eighth half-century of the season, and then capped it to be instrumental in taking 19 off a Dwayne Smith over to swing the momentum in his team's favour.

With the match on the line, Warner hit 13 runs from Bravo in the 19th over to prove beyond doubt that he can not only start an innings but finish it as well.

Warner's stunning knock included 11 fours and three sixes, carrying his bat for the Sunrisers and hitting the winning runs.

The turning point: Buoyed by Warner's heroics, the Sunrisers still needed 24 runs from the final two overs. Gujarat skipper Suresh Raina threw the ball to Dwayne Bravo. Warner had 75 to his name as he faced up, and skewed a slower first delivery over point for a boundary. Next ball, he used his timing and soft hands to drop the ball into the gap then took off like a man possessed, his powerful legs helping him to run two. Third ball he sliced through the tight off-side field – it looked destined to hit the boundary but Aaron Finch threw himself to the task and saved the boundary with a diving stop. Sunrisers run two: 16 runs off nine balls needed.

Bravo went with the slow ball again for the fourth ball, Warner latched onto it with gusto, fiercely cutting it to the fence. There was no chance for Finch to cut this one off. The fifth ball was driven into the outfield for a single, Warner taking the opportunity to secure strike for the final over.

Now it was time for Bipul Sharma to shine. The India allrounder already had 21 runs from ten balls, including two sixes and here he added a third in the innings of his life. Anticipating a slower ball, he lofted it high over long-leg. The over went for 19 and all but ended Gujarat's season.

The support cast: Bipul Sharma proved the perfect partner for Warner. The left-hander's cameo of 27 from 11 balls eased some pressure off the Australian. The pair would add 46 from 21 balls to take Sunrisers to a famous win.  Sharma also had a good night with the ball with 1-21 from his three overs.

Ben Cutting impressed with the ball for the second straight match, continuing to justify his selection ahead of Kane Williamson, taking 2-20 in three overs on a small ground and a good pitch. Trent Boult also played his first game for Sunrisers this season, and got the big wicket of the Gujarat skipper Suresh Raina lbw for 1.

The fielding effort: It was at times a sloppy night in the field for the Sunrisers but Ben Cutting’s stellar effort on the boundary to prevent a six was the highlight of the night. Standing at deep mid-wicket Cutting leapt over the boundary to catch Aaron Finch's hit while airborne and outside the field of play, and then still had the presence of mind to throw it back in the same action. It was just unfortunate for Cutting there was no fielder in close proximity to complete the catch. Finch survived, but more importantly in such a close finish, the five runs saved proved to be a game changer. Maybe Cutting has learned a thing or two from Brisbane Heat teammate Chris Lynn.

The consolation effort: Dropping down to No.5 in the batting order seems to have made no difference to Aaron Finch's ability to pile up runs in the 20-over format. The former opener reached 50 for the fifth time this season to help push the Lions to a score of 162.

Given a life on 13, Finch decided to make the most of his luck by hitting a towering six of Moises Henriques as the rest of the over disappeared for 14 runs. Henriques' three overs would concede 27. From that moment on, Finch found his timing and managed to find the boundary a further five times to score 50 (32) before he was bowled by Cutting.

The stat: David Warner has now scored 779 runs at 59.92 including eight fifties and a strike rate of 149.23 this season. He has scored a whopping 35 per cent of his team's runs this season. Warner also now holds the record for the most scores above fifty in the IPL history, having passed the mark 33 times.

The wash-up:  Finishing the regular season at the top of the ladder was a remarkable achievement for the Gujarat Lions and head coach Brad Hodge, especially given this was their debut season. But they would be disappointed that they failed to deliver the knockout blow in both of their finals. The Sunrisers have definitely been one of the more consistent sides and they deserve their spot in Sunday's showdown. Warner's ability to win a match singlehandedly notwithstanding, the final could well be decided by the tussle between the Sunrisers bowlers against the in-form Bangalore batsmen.