Playoffs spot up for grabs, one last time, for depleted Sunrisers

Sunrisers Hyderabad arrive at their final stop of the league stages - Bengaluru - knowing what needs to be done, but also grudgingly aware of their depleted firepower. The equation hasn't changed since their heartbreak at the Wankhede - a win would still almost certainly be enough to nab that last remaining playoff berth on account of a superior net run rate, which is more than what can be said of their three competitors anyway who don't have the luxury of being in charge of their own destiny.

Funny thing that, being in charge. The Sunrisers were in charge against the Mumbai Indians after restricting them to a modest 162, the lowest first-innings score at the Wankhede this season. They were also in charge after a flying start to their run-chase. And then, all of a sudden, they were not. The soft underbelly of the batting, pampered until then by the staggering exploits of David Warner and Jonny Bairstow, didn't have that