Skipper Kane Williamson holds key for Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kings XI Punjab
Sky Sports Cricket, 3.30pm Thursday

Chris Gayle lived up to his self-styled nickname of Universe Boss with a brutal century for Kings XI Punjab against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Mohali but a less flamboyant character could steal the show in the reverse fixture.

Sunrisers captain Kane Williamson was his side's joint-top runscorer with 29 in a total of 118 against Mumbai on Tuesday – an innings that looked far more significant once the Indians had been skittled for 87.

That gritty win made it four victories in six for Hyderabad but the hosts are outsiders to see off a Kings XI side who have won five of their first half-dozen games.

Gayle wasn't fit enough to play in Punjab's last outing, a nervy four-run win over Delhi, and they will be desperate to get him back on the park, especially with Aaron Finch, Yuvraj Singh and David Miller short of runs.

The Sunrisers have had batting issues too, with key opener Shikhar Dhawan troubled by an elbow injury, but Williamson's consistency is keeping the show on the road.

Before the low-scoring heist against Mumbai, the classy Kiwi had made three consecutive half-centuries including 54 against Kings XI and 84 against Chennai in his last home game.

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