Sun risers Hyderabad strengthened their chances of finishing in the Indian Premier League play-offs with a five-run success over beleaguered Kings XI Punjab, who were indebted to incredible late hitting from David Miller to get so close. The victors came into Monday's meeting fifth in the table, a point outside the top four, but captain David Warner struck 81 at the top of the order to set up victory as they climbed to fourth with two matches to play. Warner thumped six fours and five maximums in his 52-ball innings, as hosts Sunrisers made 185-5. He was almost upstaged by Miller, who blitzed a remarkable 89 not out from 44 deliveries, which included two fours and nine sixes, but no other man was able to offer much support as the strugglers finished on 180-7. Kings XI, who released Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Marsh from their contracts in order to return to Australia, were runners-up in 2014 but look destined to finish bottom of the table this season having lost 10 of their 12 outings so far. Warner and Shikhar Dhawan made a flying start, racing to 56-0 after six overs before Glenn Maxwell (1-28) removed the latter for 24. The remainder of Sunrisers' innings was built around Warner, who found the boundary with customary power. Miller showed some fight for the Kings XI cause, taking 22 from Ishant Sharma's final over to provide late fireworks, but ultimately it proved in vain as he was unable to halt Sunrisers' ascent into the top four.
