In a breathtaking display of cricketing prowess, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) secured a commanding 10-wicket win over the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the iconic Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. With a target of 166 runs, SRH demonstrated their batting strength by chasing it down in just 9.4 overs, reaffirming their reputation as one of the most formidable batting line-ups in the TATA IPL 2024 season.
The Sunrisers’ stunning performance was spearheaded by an explosive opening stand between Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. Their assault on the LSG bowlers was relentless and left no room for error. Scoring an astonishing 107 runs in the powerplay alone, SRH essentially sealed their victory within the first few overs. This early momentum set an imposing tone for the rest of the innings.
Remarkably, SRH only managed eight runs in the first over, but the onslaught began in earnest during the second. Abhishek Sharma unleashed his power against Yash Thakur, hitting four boundaries to get things moving. Travis Head then joined the fireworks, taking 22 runs off K Gowtham in the third over with a barrage of sixes and a lone four. This aggressive start prompted LSG’s captain KL Rahul to introduce Ravi Bishnoi into the attack during the fourth over. However, the change failed to stem the flow of runs as Hyderabad continued to score freely.
When the fifth over began with Naveen-ul-Haq leading the attack, Head capitalized and brought up his lightning-fast half-century off just 16 balls. This over went for 23 runs, further demoralizing the LSG side. Yash Thakur returned to bowl the final over of the powerplay, but by then, Hyderabad had already surged past the century mark, with Abhishek Sharma impressively matching Head’s blistering pace, stroke for stroke.
Anticipating that the spread-field phase might bring some relief for LSG, many were left incredulous as SRH continued their relentless march towards victory. Head and Abhishek were unfazed by any changes in the bowling line-up, maintaining the high-octane chase as if they were determined to reach the target within ten overs. The final run was brought home in dramatic fashion when Abhishek launched Thakur for a blistering six over cover, sealing a memorable win for the Sunrisers. Head remained unbeaten on an astonishing 89 off 30 balls, while Abhishek ended with a flourishing 75 not out off just 28 balls.
. The innings featured an incredible tally of 16 fours and 14 sixes, leaving the LSG bowlers with disappointing figures reflecting this annihilation.
Earlier in the day, SRH’s bowlers laid a solid foundation by restricting LSG to a total of 165 runs. The Hyderabad bowlers regularly punctured through the top order, picking up crucial wickets just when the opposition seemed to find their footing. Ayush Badoni (55 not out off 30 balls) and Nicholas Pooran (48 not out of 26 balls) were pivotal in bringing LSG to a competitive total, thanks to their resilient 99-run stand.
The initial phase of LSG’s innings was marked by Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s meticulous bowling. Bringing in years of expertise, Kumar applied immense pressure on the LSG batsmen, conceding only seven runs in his first three overs while claiming the scalps of Quinton de Kock and Marcus Stoinis. By the end of the powerplay, LSG were confined to a modest score of 27 for the loss of two, laying the groundwork for a potential rebuild.
Krunal Pandya, in partnership with KL Rahul, attempted to accelerate the scoring rate, taking on Jaydev Unadkat in the eighth over for two towering sixes. Their partnership did lend some stability, but the team was still managing a scoring rate of less than a run a ball at this stage. Matters worsened when Rahul, on 29, was caught trying to dispatch Pat Cummins at long-on. Pandya’s subsequent fall to a run-out for 24 signalled additional pressure building up on the LSG batting order.
Amid this upheaval, Nicholas Pooran and Ayush Badoni stepped up to steady the ship. Badoni was particularly impressive, displaying a fearless approach with strategic aggression to inject vitality into the LSG innings. Targeting T Natarajan in the 14th over, Badoni hit three boundaries, bringing a much-needed pace to the scoring. From that point, LSG managed to keep up the momentum, exceeding 10 runs in almost every over that followed, save for Bhuvneshwar’s last over, which conceded a mere five runs. Bhuvneshwar concluded his remarkable spell with figures of two for 12 runs — statistical evidence of his dominance given the onslaught that followed.
Badoni reached his half-century in swift fashion during the penultimate over, taking just 28 balls. The closing two overs added 34 more runs to LSG’s total, including a momentum-giving 19 from the final over bowled by Cummins, lifting their tally to a credible 165. In retrospection, given their turbulent first 10 overs, LSG’s recovery was commendable, although it wasn’t enough to withstand the assault by Head and Abhishek, whose phenomenal innings sealed the game in SRH’s favor.