In a statement victory at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) delivered a cricketing masterclass with a 10-wicket triumph over the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The explosive batting performances of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma illuminated the match, reinforcing why SRH’s batting lineup is considered one of the most formidable in this year’s league.
Chasing a seemingly challenging target of 166, SRH shattered expectations by reaching the total in just 9.4 overs, exemplifying their batting prowess. The lightning-fast chase was led predominantly by SRH’s scintillating performance during the powerplay, a phase where they have consistently dominated through the tournament. Accumulating a staggering 107 runs during the powerplay alone, SRH virtually sealed the match within the initial six overs. Such a dominant display left the LSG bowling unit with no room for maneuver.
The inning commenced with SRH cautiously easing into the chase, making a mere eight runs in the first over. However, it was in the second over that Abhishek Sharma began unleashing a torrent of boundaries, effortlessly stroking four consecutive fours off Yash Thakur. When K Gowtham stepped up for the third over, it was Travis Head’s turn to engage, as he went on a rampage, collecting 22 runs through a trio of sixes and a four. KL Rahul’s decision to bring Ravi Bishnoi into the attack in the fourth over did nothing to impede SRH’s momentum, as runs continued to pour in abundantly.
Naveen-ul-Haq, tasked with bowling the fifth over, found himself at the mercy of Head’s ferocity as the batter reached a rapid half-century off just 16 balls, with the over conceding another 23 runs. The final over of the powerplay, delivered by Thakur, saw Abhishek captivatingly matching Head shot for shot, lifting SRH beyond 100 runs. With the field now spread, many anticipated a respite for LSG, but SRH’s aggressive intent remained unyielding. Head kickstarted the seventh over with a colossal six over mid-wicket, and Abhishek reached his well-deserved fifty by sending a ball soaring over long-on.
Head and Abhishek’s partnership was characterized by unrelenting aggression and clinical precision. Every bowler—a potential bane to SRH’s ambition—struggled as the duo seemed determined to complete the chase within 10 overs.
. The emphatic victory was sealed when Abhishek hammered Thakur over cover for a colossal six. Head’s unbeaten 89 off 30 balls and Abhishek’s 75 not out from 28 balls underscored the sheer power and finesse of their innings. Together, their partnership produced an astonishing 16 fours and 14 sixes, leaving the LSG bowlers in a state of reflection after their taxing day on the field.
Earlier in the match, SRH’s bowlers had set a strong foundation by confining LSG to 165, successfully unsettling their top order with consistent wicket-taking. The noteworthy partnership between Ayush Badoni—who remained not out on 55 off 30 balls—and Nicholas Pooran, who contributed a brisk 48 off 26 balls, gave LSG’s innings a semblance of solidity. Their unbeaten 99-run stand brightened the last 10 overs of the innings, contrasting sharply with the initial phases.
Experienced campaigner Bhuvneshwar Kumar was instrumental in SRH’s defensive game plan, exerting pressure on LSG in the infancy of their innings. With his first three overs producing only seven runs and clinching the prized wickets of Quinton de Kock and Marcus Stoinis, SRH ensured a commanding start. The scoreboard read 27 for two at the end of the powerplay, forcing LSG to rebuild with Krunal Pandya and KL Rahul at the crease.
While Pandya attempted to up the ante with a couple of sixes off Jaydev Unadkat in the eighth over, the scoring rate remained sub-par until Rahul departed for 29, succumbing to Pat Cummins while attempting to clear the deep. Pandya’s run-out for 24 in the 12th over further stalled LSG’s progress before Pooran and Badoni came to the rescue.
Badoni showcased his aggressive flair and revitalized LSG’s innings, especially against T Natarajan in the 14th over, where he delivered three consecutive fours, generating necessary momentum with a 16-run over. Their resolute partnership ensured that LSG accumulated more than 10 runs per over post the 14th, apart from Bhuvneshwar’s effective final over which ceded just five runs. His spell concluded with spectacular figures of two for 12, contrasting sharply with the rest of the match’s blitzkrieg.
In reaching his half-century in the penultimate over, Badoni exemplified bravery and skill by getting there from just 28 balls. The final two overs of LSG’s innings witnessed a splurge of runs, amounting to 34, thanks to 19 runs off the last over bowled by Cummins. This onslaught led LSG to a respectable 165, a significant improvement considering their earlier struggles but insufficient against SRH’s exceptional chasing duo, Head and Abhishek, who were simply unmatched on the day.