TATA IPL 2024 continued to deliver high-voltage cricket as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) locked horns with table-toppers Rajasthan Royals (RR) in what turned out to be a nerve-wracking encounter. The action began with SRH winning the toss and opting to bat on their home ground, a strategic decision setting the stage for an eventful contest.
The drama started right from the first ball when Riyan Parag failed to capitalize on a golden opportunity, dropping Travis Head at backward point from Trent Boult’s delivery, allowing the ball to escape to the boundary. Boult, known for his first-over exploits, was denied a brilliant start by this missed chance. Nevertheless, SRH struggled to make an immediate impact, facing the probing lines and lengths of Boult and the off-spin of R Ashwin from the other end.
The calculated bowling kept the usually aggressive SRH top-order quiet during the early overs. Through the powerplay, Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head found it challenging to break free. During the first four overs, SRH managed only 25 runs, eventually leading to Abhishek succumbing to the pressure by pulling Avesh Khan’s first ball in the fifth over straight to deep square-leg. Following his dismissal, Anmolpreet Singh took the crease but his tenure was short-lived as he chipped Sandeep Sharma to short mid-wicket by the powerplay’s end, leaving SRH at 37 for two.
As the innings progressed, headlined by Travis Head and Nitish Reddy, SRH initiated a rescue mission. The partnership between the two right-handers methodically rebuilt the innings, accumulating 96 runs in under 10 overs. Initially, they focused on rotating the strike before Head switched gears when Yuzvendra Chahal was introduced in the ninth over. Head launched a flurry of attacks, hitting a six over mid-wicket, another down the ground, and ending the over with a four through mid-wicket. Nitish Reddy, spurred by Head’s aggressive play, also opened up hitting a six off Ashwin in the following over. By the halfway mark, SRH had steadied the ship at 75 for two.
The aggressive intent showcased by Head and Reddy ensured a higher frequency of boundaries, helping them inch closer to a competitive total. Head reached his fifty in 37 balls during the 12th over, a significant milestone considering the pressure RR’s bowlers had exerted earlier. The turning point came in the 13th over when Nitish hammered Chahal for 21 runs; a mix of orthodox and unorthodox strokes including reverse-sweeps and long hits down the ground.
Despite facing a run-out appeal in the 15th over, Head kept pressing on before a failed scoop attempt against Avesh saw him getting bowled out for 58 off 44 balls. His dismissal brought Heinrich Klaasen to the crease, who, alongside Nitish, targeted a daunting total of 200 runs. Nitish soon brought up his half-century, venting his aggression on Ashwin with a slew of powerful hits. Klaasen played his part exceptionally well during the slog overs, facing more deliveries and utilizing them effectively.
Klaasen’s unbeaten 42 off just 19 balls, adorned with three sixes and three fours, propelled SRH past the 200-mark on the final ball of the innings. Nitish complimented Klaasen’s execution, remaining unbeaten at 76 off 42 balls, marking his highest score in TATA IPL history, with an impressive tally of eight sixes and just three fours.
Facing a formidable total, RR sent out Jos Buttler as an Impact Player to open the innings, replacing Yuzvendra Chahal. In response, SRH introduced Jaydev Unadkat as their Impact Player in place of Anmolpreet Singh.
The match’s concluding phase was as thrilling as its beginning, gripping fans with every ball. Despite RR’s strong start with Buttler at the helm, SRH’s bowlers managed to hold their nerve, navigating through pressure phases to restrict RR’s score and clinch a dramatic victory. This hard-fought win against the table-toppers not only boosted SRH’s morale but also added a significant chapter to this season of TATA IPL.