Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) all-rounder Jason Holder acknowledged the great efforts of left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem since coming into the side after his restraint spell was integral to SRH's victory in the Eliminator this Friday (November 6) against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
Nadeem, who didn't quite fit into SRH's first-choice line-up in the earlier stages of IPL 2020, has now gone at an economy rate of just 7.22 across 6 innings in the tournament with 5 wickets.
Read Also: RCB's batting unit "ran out of steam" after first 10 games, says Simon Katich
Against RCB on the big night, the Jharkhand and India spinner controlled the middle-overs beautifully alongside Rashid Khan (0/22), delivering a spell of 1/30 himself to help restrict the opposition to just 131/7.
Nadeem and Rashid's smart and guile combined terrifically with the brilliance of Holder (3/25), Sandeep Sharma (0/21) and T Natarajan (2/33) in one of SRH's most robust act with the ball.
"I think the dynamics of our bowling attack is we got skills. Sandeep comes in and swings, I myself got the movement and then Natarajan comes him with very subtle pace," said Holder at the post-match press conference, as quoted by ANI.
"I think it's a really good balance and then we got a world-class spinner Rashid Khan and Nadeem too. He (Nadeem) has come in and David has really used him well in the tournament and we have been able to see the best in Nadeem."
"He was a little unlucky today, his figures don't suggest how well he has bowl today but he has done an outstanding job particularly in the last couple of fixtures that we had," he added.
In the chase, SRH were 67/4 in the 12th over. But Kane Williamson (50*) and Holder (24*) didn't allow RCB to further pile on the pressure. Keeping their nerves, the duo took their team home with a sensible 65-run fifth-wicket partnership.
The performance was reflective of the wave of confidence which SRH are carrying with them at the moment. They continued their winning streak in the competition and reached a step further towards clinching the title.
Holder talked about the same and also provided an update on injured, in-form wicketkeeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha, who didn't take the field versus RCB.
"Morale in the camp is very good obviously we have done very well at the back half of the tournament. We picked at the right time and gained really good momentum and different guys have been putting their hands on different occasions for us. One more big effort we are in the definitely in the final," said Holder.
"I'm not sure about his (Saha's) fitness, to be honest. Saha has done really well for us after coming back into the team. It's hard to lose him. We have got a replacement in the group but he is the guy who has been around for so many years and we back him to execute," he added.
Resurgent SRH will now take on Delhi Capitals (DC) in Qualifier 2 on Sunday (November 8).
