In a dazzling display of power hitting and strategic teamwork, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) achieved a remarkable 10-wicket triumph over the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. This victory not only showcased the unyielding spirit of SRH but also underlined their exceptional batting prowess in this edition of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. With a target of 166 to chase, the SRH opening duo of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma put on a performance for the ages, surpassing expectations by achieving the target in just 9.4 overs.
The match began with SRH taking control from the onset. Known for their aggressive approach during the powerplay, SRH once again lit up the stadium with their fireworks. An astonishing 107 runs were scored in this critical phase, ensuring that the match was effectively sealed even before the powerplay concluded. The opening pair left very little room for error for the LSG bowlers who faced relentless onslaughts from both ends.
What’s most astonishing about SRH’s run-chase is that the fireworks began only after a seemingly slow start, with just eight runs in the first over. It was in the second over that Abhishek Sharma set the tone by dispatching Yash Thakur for four exquisite boundaries. The third over brought more action as Travis Head joined in, dismantling K Gowtham with a flurry that included three sixes and a four, amassing 22 runs. KL Rahul, the LSG skipper, attempted to stem the flow by introducing Ravi Bishnoi, but the runs continued to pour as SRH maintained their dominance.
The fifth over, bowled by Naveen-ul-Haq, saw Travis Head reach a breathtaking half-century off a mere 16 balls, underscoring his explosive form. This particular over leaked another 23 runs, as LSG struggled to find a breakthrough. Yash Thakur returned to bowl the final over of the powerplay but was met with further aggression as Abhishek matched Head’s strides, propelling SRH past the 100-run mark.
Post-powerplay, the momentum barely shifted. While LSG might have hoped for some respite with the field spread, Travis Head promptly dismissed such hopes, hammering a six off the very first ball of the seventh over.
. Abhishek Sharma soon completed his half-century in style with a six over long-on. Boundaries came thick and fast, leaving the LSG bowlers with no answers.
The match concluded emphatically when Abhishek Sharma launched Yash Thakur for a towering six over cover, sealing the victory. Head finished the match unbeaten on a scintillating 89 off just 30 deliveries, while Abhishek remained not out on 75 off 28 balls. Together, they accumulated an astonishing 16 fours and 14 sixes, painting a dire picture for the LSG bowlers, whose figures reflected a performance they’d rapidly wish to forget.
Earlier in the day, SRH’s bowlers had set the tone by restricting LSG to 165 runs, applying pressure from the very beginning and taking key wickets at crucial moments. Despite a resilient unbeaten 99-run stand between Ayush Badoni and Nicholas Pooran, who scored 55 and 48, respectively, in the latter overs, LSG’s batting never truly took off after faltering at the start.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar spearheaded the SRH bowling attack with aplomb, conceding just seven runs and claiming two wickets in his initial spell. His victims included the high-profile batsmen Quinton de Kock and Marcus Stoinis, resulting in LSG staggering to 27 for two at the end of their powerplay. In a bid to rebuild, Krunal Pandya and KL Rahul took the crease, though success was limited.
Krunal broke the shackles with two sixes off Jaydev Unadkat in the eighth over, but LSG’s scoring rate remained conservative. The pressure compounded when KL Rahul departed for 29, courtesy of a well-fledged Pat Cummins delivery that was caught at deep square. Further disruption ensued with Krunal’s run-out for 24, leaving Pooran and Badoni with the task of reconstruction.
The duo ensured LSG passed 150, with Badoni providing the impetus in the closing overs. However, Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned to produce an outstanding 2 for 12 spell, capping off an effective bowling performance from SRH. Despite LSG clawing back to 165 with some late over heroics, the SRH chase redefined the match with breathtaking ease and precision. In all, a day that will be cherished by SRH and mourned by LSG, the power of SRH’s performance serving as a significant highlight in IPL 2024’s tapestry.