Ishan Kishan fifty boosts Gujarat Lions vs Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2017 clash

Ishan Kishan needed 25 balls to complete his half-century, with the youngster hitting four boundaries and four sixes in the process

Young opener Ishan Kishan underlined his potential at the Indian Premier League, smashing a half-century as Gujarat Lions suffered a middle- and lower-order collapse to reach a modest 154 all out in 19.2 overs against Sunrisers Hyderabad, at the Green Park stadium here on Saturday. (GL v SRH BLOG | SCORECARD)

Gujarat Lions’ Ishan Kishan (R) plays a shot during his innings against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2017 Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. (AFP)

India under-19 skipper from Jharkhand, Kishan smashed a 40-ball 61, which contained five fours and four sixes. He was aggressive from the beginning and stroked the Sunrisers Hyderabad bowlers, including speedster Siddharth Kaul, on a placid wicket.

Kishan, whose best score this IPL season was 48 (vs Mumbai Indians at Rajkot), surprised Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper David Warner, who chose to field first with an anticipation of getting early wickets in an afternoon game.

Though off-spinner Mohd Nabi kept Kishan under control, conceding just two runs in his first over, the Gujarat Lions player let loose, hitting two sixes and a four in his very next over.

Siddharth Kaul too tried to put the brakes on Kishan’s fiery batting but failed to do so as the batsman was too good with his pulls, drives and lofted shots. Kishan completed his half-century with a superb six off Rashid Khan in the mid-wicket region.