In a breathtaking display of cricket dominance, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) crushed the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) with a 10-wicket victory at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. This stunning performance underlined the formidable strength of SRH’s batting lineup, with Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma leading the charge. The pair made it look effortless as they chased down LSG’s target of 166 runs in just 9.4 overs, setting a new standard in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.
Right from the outset, SRH’s batsmen showed their intent, particularly within the powerplay, a segment where they have consistently excelled throughout the tournament. The team scored a whopping 107 runs in the powerplay itself—a figure that effectively sealed LSG’s fate. The left-handed opening duo of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma capitalized on every opportunity, leaving the LSG bowlers with little room for error.
Initially, SRH made a conservative start, scoring just eight runs in the first over. However, the floodgates opened in the second over as Abhishek Sharma struck four boundaries off Yash Thakur. The momentum didn’t stop there. When K Gowtham took charge of the third over, Travis Head immediately changed gears, hammering three sixes and a boundary to accumulate 22 runs. This forced KL Rahul, the LSG captain, to bring in their ace bowler Ravi Bishnoi for the fourth over, only to witness the run flow continue unabated.
Naveen-ul-Haq faced the brunt in the fifth over as Head showcased his explosive capabilities, reaching a half-century in just 16 balls. That over alone conceded 23 runs. The terror for LSG continued when Yash Thakur returned to bowl the last over of the powerplay, with Abhishek matching Head’s aggressive strokes and taking SRH’s score past 100.
With the field beginning to spread, there was hope that LSG might gain some control. However, SRH had other plans. Head opened the seventh over with a massive six over mid-wicket, and Abhishek followed suit, reaching his half-century with a six over long-on.
Both players continued to find the boundary with ease, showing no signs of slowing down. It became clear that Head and Abhishek were determined to wrap up the game inside 10 overs. The convincing victory came when Abhishek hammered Thakur for a massive six over cover, sealing the win. Head remained unbeaten at an astounding 89 runs off just 30 balls, while Abhishek finished at 75 not out from 28 balls. Their partnership included a staggering 16 fours and 14 sixes, reflecting the utter carnage they inflicted on the LSG bowlers.
Reflecting on the earlier part of the match, SRH’s bowlers had set the stage by restricting LSG to a total of 165. Regular wickets during the early overs unsettled LSG’s top order, making it challenging for them to build momentum. The innings was somewhat salvaged by a remarkable partnership between Ayush Badoni, who scored 55 not out off 30 balls, and Nicholas Pooran, who finished with 48 not out off 26 balls. Their unbeaten 99-run stand in the final 10 overs helped LSG reach a respectable total.
However, the initial struggle was apparent. Bhuvneshwar Kumar exploited his experience effectively to put pressure on LSG. In his first three overs, he conceded only seven runs while taking the key wickets of Quinton de Kock and Marcus Stoinis. By the end of the powerplay, LSG were stuttering at 27 for two. This necessitated a rebuilding phase with Krunal Pandya and KL Rahul at the crease.
Pandya eventually aimed to up the ante in the eighth over by targeting Jaydev Unadkat, striking two glorious sixes. Despite this effort, LSG’s progress was hampered when Rahul departed for 29, caught by a deep fielder off Pat Cummins’ bowling. Soon after, Pandya was run out for 24, leaving Pooran and Badoni to stitch together a defiant partnership.
While Pooran provided stability, Badoni injected aggression into the innings. This was evident when he took on T Natarajan in the 14th over, hitting three boundaries to bring 16 runs off the over and reignite LSG’s innings. The duo ensured that each over past the 14th yielded over 10 runs, with the exception of Bhuvneshwar’s tight last over that allowed just five runs. Bhuvneshwar capped off his impressive spell with figures of two wickets for only 12 runs, standing out even more given the brutal batting display that followed.
On the last stretch, Badoni reached his half-century in the penultimate over, needing only 28 balls. The final two overs saw a further 34 runs, including 19 off the last over bowled by Pat Cummins, pushing LSG to a total of 165. This late surge gave LSG a glimmer of hope, but SRH’s openers quickly extinguished any optimism with their awe-inspiring chase.
SRH’s comprehensive ten-wicket victory serves as a strong reminder of their batting prowess, spearheaded by the unparalleled performances of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, proving once again why they are among the top contenders in this IPL season.