In a stunning display of power-hitting and flawless execution, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) trounced Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) with a commanding 10-wicket win at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The eighth edition of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 witnessed one of the most fearsome batting performances, as SRH’s openers, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, tore into the LSG bowling attack, chasing down a target of 166 in a mere 9.4 overs.
The opening act for SRH was nothing short of extraordinary, with the team scoring a mammoth 107 runs during the powerplay overs alone. Such intensity and aggressive batting right from the start turned the match decisively in SRH’s favor and left the LSG bowlers scrambling for solutions. From the moment the innings commenced, the duo of Head and Abhishek set the tone, leaving no scope for error for their opponents.
Although the first over yielded just eight runs, the second over exploded into action as Abhishek Sharma showcased his aggressive intentions by striking Yash Thakur for four consecutive boundaries. Head soon joined in the assault, dispatching K Gowtham’s third over for a staggering 22 runs, which included three towering sixes and a four. Despite KL Rahul’s strategic move to introduce spin by bringing on Ravi Bishnoi in the fourth over, SRH continued their dominance. Head’s rhythm remained unperturbed, reaching a blistering half-century off just 16 balls when Naveen-ul-Haq came on for the fifth over, which too was plundered for 23 runs.
The conclusion of the powerplay saw Thakur returning to bowl, only to be met with further onslaught. Abhishek Sharma equaled Head, ensuring that SRH sprinted past the 100-run mark with ease. The inevitable spread of the field did little to thwart SRH’s momentum as they continued their calculated aggression. Head showcased his indomitable form by slog-sweeping a six in the seventh over, followed by Abhishek’s own demonstration of power with a six over long-on, bringing up his fifty.
Borders were breached with alarming regularity, regardless of who bowled, and it seemed the pair was intent on chasing the target well within 10 overs. The finale was fitting as victory was sealed with a thunderous six over covers by Abhishek Sharma off Thakur.
. Travis Head remained unbeaten, striking a remarkable 89 off just 30 balls, while Abhishek finished with an impressive 75 not out off 28 deliveries. SRH’s innings boasted an astonishing 16 fours and 14 sixes, rendering the LSG bowling attack helpless and their figures rather forgettable.
Before SRH’s batting wizardry, their bowlers had done an admirable job, restricting LSG to 165 by systematically dismantling their top order at regular intervals. The only substantial resistance came from Ayush Badoni and Nicholas Pooran who paired up effectively, crafting an encouraging partnership of 99 unbeaten runs in the final 10 overs of their innings. Badoni, with a fiery 55 not out off 30 balls, and Pooran, contributing 48 not out off 26, were the focal points of LSG’s resurgence after a distressing start.
The initial stages of the LSG innings were characterized by Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s masterclass in controlled seam bowling. His tight first three overs put LSG on the defensive, giving away just seven runs while claiming crucial wickets of Quinton de Kock and Marcus Stoinis. With the powerplay yielding a mere 27 for two, LSG found themselves shackled and in dire need of building partnerships.
Krunal Pandya attempted to revive the innings in the eighth over by targeting Jaydev Unadkat, hitting two sixes. Yet, LSG continued to struggle to score beyond a run-a-ball, made more acute as KL Rahul fell for 29, caught by Pat Cummins. A Pandya run out soon after left the LSG innings teetering, setting the stage for Pooran and Badoni’s vital rally.
Pooran’s experience combined effectively with Badoni’s aggression, injecting much-needed energy into LSG’s innings. Their campaign to accumulate over 10 runs per over post the 14th over, apart from Bhuvneshwar’s, ensured a total that at least gave LSG a fighting chance, even as Bhuvneshwar finished with an unbelievably economical spell of two for 12.
Badoni’s assertive batting saw him through to his half-century in the penultimate over, completing it in only 28 balls. The accumulation of 34 runs in the final two overs, highlighted by Cummins’s expensive last over, brought LSG to a respectable 165. Despite their efforts, the total was inadequate against the sheer brilliance of SRH’s openers, Head and Abhishek, on a day when they were quite simply, unstoppable.