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David Warner breaks IPL opening record with Jonny Bairstow

David Warner sent a brutal reminder to Australian selectors as wife Candice and Rachel Khawaja reacted to his history-making effort.

Paul Johnson
2 min read
April 1, 2019 - 10:03AM
David Warner celebrates scoring a century in the IPL.
David Warner celebrates scoring a century in the IPL.

Need proof David Warner could be useful at the World Cup?

Well look no further than the returning batsman’s amazing unbeaten century for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League.

Warner blasted an even 100 off 55 deliveries for his side as they made 2-231 as he and England’s Jonny Bairstow went ballistic against Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The opening pair set an IPL record of 185 runs in 16.2 overs, making it the highest opening stand in the tournament’s history and for a strange change it was Warner playing the anchor role, while Bairstow belted 114 from 56 deliveries, before falling to the bowling of Yuzvendra Chahal.

Bairstow smashed 12 fours and seven sixes in his innings while Warner hit five of each as he carried the bat and served another reminder to Australian selectors that he is ready should he be named for the World Cup.

His wife Candice posted a touching message on social media after his historic knock.

“Words cannot begin to describe how proud I am of this man. @davidwarner31 you have never stop (sic) believing,” she wrote on Instagram. “Congratulations on 100 tonight. And to all the @sunrisershyd fans for all the support you have shown David and my family, thank you. See you in Hyderabad soon. X.”

Usman Khawaja’s wife Rachel also tweeted her support of Warner and Candice.

Warner’s innings came as Australia played the 5th ODI in their series against Pakistan, where both openers Khawaja and Aaron Finch had made half-centuries.

The innings also came after current Australia ODI skipper Finch said he thought both Warner and Steve Smith might have a hard time getting into the current, well-performing Australian ODI side.

“It is bloody hard,” Finch said of World Cup selection.

“Especially when the side is playing so well, it’s going to be difficult. No matter who it is.

“At the end of the day … it’s an incredibly tough decision. Whatever balance you go with in that 15-man squad, there’s going to be some very unlucky blokes out there.”

Having struggled for a period without Smith and Warner, Finch’s side have shown the kind of form that propelled them to a fifth World Cup title four years ago on home soil.

Finch said consistency of selection had aided their turnaround.

“The fact that guys are getting more of an opportunity to keep developing their role, and developing the role they’ve been asked to play or the game demands, is gold,” he said.

“That probably goes under the radar a little bit when you’re looking at teams that have been successful in the past.

“I think leading up to the 2015 World Cup, we’d had the same 15 players for a good 18 months or so.

“That goes a long way, not just to your culture but just an understanding of how each other plays.”

And while it may be tough for Warner and Smith, the cricket world was losing it’s collective mind over the innings he and Bairstow played with India great Sachin Tendulkar leading the charge.

“Watching @jbairstow21 & @davidwarner31 bat. Must say everything about their partnership has been extraordinary. Some serious shots and hard running between the wickets in this heat. Truly remarkable,” Tendulkar tweeted.

He was followed by many others in his praise — and for Warner it was his biggest innings of the tournament so far after notching knocks of 85 and 69 in his opening two matches.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/david-warner-breaks-ipl-opening-record-with-jonny-bairstow/news-story/efbd1ca2c68e19bdb430247351f8b61b