In a spectacular showcase of cricketing prowess, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) clinched a decisive 10-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the iconic Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The match unfolded with blazing performances by SRH’s Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, whose thunderous batting carried their team to triumph, further cementing SRH’s reputation as one of the most formidable forces in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Chasing a target of 166, the team reached the mark in a stunning 9.4 overs, underscoring their extraordinary batting strength.
The SRH duo unleashed a batting masterclass right from the outset, shaking the foundations during the powerplay—a phase they have consistently dominated throughout the tournament. The opening pair amassed an incredible 107 runs during the powerplay alone, effectively sealing the victory within the first six overs. The beleaguered LSG bowlers found themselves with no room for error as the SRH openers crafted their path to victory with an aggressive approach.
The explosive innings began modestly, with just eight runs scored in the opening over. However, the second over witnessed a dramatic turn of events as Abhishek Sharma unleashed a flurry of boundaries, smashing four consecutive fours off the bowling of Yash Thakur. The next pivotal moment arose when K Gowtham was introduced for the third over, only to face Travis Head’s wrath—a brutal assault that netted 22 runs, including three towering sixes and a smashing four.
LSG skipper KL Rahul, seeking to stem the flow of runs, brought in leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi for the fourth over. Nevertheless, SRH’s charge continued unabated as they fed off the momentum, consistently finding gaps and sending deliveries to the boundary. When Naveen-ul-Haq stepped up to bowl the fifth over, he encountered a dominating Travis Head, who raced to a 16-ball half-century. This over, too, proved costly as 23 more runs were added to the uproarious tally.
The final powerplay over bowled by Thakur saw Abhishek Sharma match Head stroke for stroke, propelling SRH past the 100-run mark with ease. As the field restrictions were lifted, many anticipated a respite for LSG, but SRH had other plans. Head continued his onslaught, sending the first delivery of the seventh over sailing over the mid-wicket boundary for a six, while Abhishek reached his personal milestone with a majestic six over long-on.
The unrelenting spree of boundaries persisted, rendering the identity of the bowler inconsequential, as Head and Abhishek seemed determined to achieve their target in under 10 overs. The triumph was finally sealed as Abhishek elegantly dispatched Thakur over cover for a monumental six.
. At the conclusion of the innings, Head had amassed an astonishing 89 runs off just 30 balls, while Abhishek remained unbeaten on 75 from 28 deliveries. The astounding SRH innings consisted of 16 fours and an astonishing 14 sixes, leaving the LSG bowlers with little to salvage from a forgettable outing.
Earlier in the contest, SRH’s bowling unit delivered a disciplined performance, effectively curtailing LSG to a total of 165 runs by consistently taking wickets and disrupting the opposition’s rhythm. Despite LSG’s top-order struggles, a resilient partnership between Ayush Badoni, who remained unbeaten on 55 from 30 balls, and Nicholas Pooran, on 48 from 26, provided some solace. Their unbeaten 99-run stand dominated the last 10 overs, offering a stark contrast to the team’s initial efforts.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar laid the foundation for SRH’s impressive bowling display early on, bringing his vast experience to bear. In his initial three overs, Kumar conceded just seven runs while securing the crucial wickets of Quinton de Kock and Marcus Stoinis. At the end of the powerplay, LSG had struggled to reach 27 for two, forcing them to regroup with Krunal Pandya and KL Rahul.
As LSG attempted to rebuild, Pandya showed signs of aggression in the eighth over by targeting Jaydev Unadkat for two sixes. Nonetheless, the team’s scoring rate remained subdued, and pressure continued to mount as Rahul fell for 29, lofting a shot off Pat Cummins to the deep. The departure of Pandya, run out for 24 in the 12th over, marked the beginning of a critical phase where Pooran and Badoni took charge.
While Pooran anchored the innings with application and experience, Badoni’s ferocity engineered a resurgence, breathing life into LSG’s innings. When T Natarajan returned for the 14th over, Badoni unleashed a sequence of three fours. This 16-run over provided the impetus LSG needed, with the pair consistently accumulating more than 10 runs in each subsequent over, except for Bhuvneshwar’s economical final spell, which conceded just five runs. Bhuvneshwar concluded his spell with impressive figures of two for 12, starkly contrasting with the carnage that followed.
Badoni reached his half-century in the penultimate over, taking just 28 balls to get there. The final two overs of the LSG innings yielded 34 runs, including a fruitful 19 from the last over bowled by Cummins, propelling LSG to a total of 165. Considering their challenging start, the recovery was indeed remarkable, and it might have inspired hope during the defense. However, the extraordinary display by Head and Abhishek ultimately proved too formidable for LSG, as SRH celebrated a thoroughly dominant win.