But the team showed great resilience to post a healthy 150/7, which proved more than adequate for their star-studded bowling lineup to defend as Kings XI managed only 120/9 in reply.
With this loss KXIP are virtually out of contention, while Hyderabad can still nurture hopes of sneaking into the playoffs.
The crucial 30-run win at the PCA stadium is bound to give sleepless nights to a couple of teams just above Hyderabad on the points table. The most concerned would be RCB, as the two are now tied at eight wins apiece with three games in hand.
The only problem SRH have is that their last three games are against the strong Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals and KKR, and they would have to win at least two of them and hope the results of the other matches - especially those of RCB - go their way.
If it was Parthiv Patel (61 off 47; 5x4, 2x6) who held one end up when wickets were tumbling at the other end, it was Darren Sammy who picked up three crucial wickets - that of Adam Gilchrist, Shaun Marsh and the dangerous David Miller - to put KXIP on the backfoot.
With the likes of Dale Steyn, Thisara Perera and Ishant Sharma also keeping things tight, the battle became rather one-sided, much to the disappointment of the crowd. In fact the writing was on the wall the moment Miller departed, though it must be said that it was unfair to expect the South African to produce a miracle in every match.
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