Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) delivered a nostalgic performance reminiscent of their most dominant days as they stormed through to a crushing 10-wicket victory over the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. SRH’s batsmen, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, provided a batting masterclass that not only anchored the day but also reaffirmed SRH’s reputation as one of the most formidable batting lineups in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Chasing a target of 166, SRH raced to victory in just 9.4 overs, a fact that succinctly encapsulates their batting ferocity on the day.
The fireworks began early for SRH during the powerplay, a phase in which they have typically excelled throughout this tournament. Remarkably, they amassed 107 runs in the powerplay itself, effectively putting the match out of LSG’s reach. The LSG bowlers faced an unyielding onslaught from the left-handed duo, who seemed intent on dominating each over.
Perhaps what stood out the most was the explosive acceleration after a cautious start. In the first over, SRH managed only eight runs, but the second over signaled the beginning of their remarkable display. Abhishek Sharma struck four boundaries off Yash Thakur, setting a precedent for the overs to come. The third over saw K Gowtham on the receiving end of Travis Head’s fury, as Head picked up 22 runs, including three sixes and a four. LSG captain KL Rahul attempted to stem the flow by introducing Ravi Bishnoi in the fourth over, but SRH’s dominance continued unabated.
In the fifth over, bowled by Naveen-ul-Haq, Head blasted his way to a 16-ball half-century, scoring 23 runs off the over. By the time Thakur came back to bowl the final over of the powerplay, both Head and Abhishek had wreaked havoc, carrying SRH past 100. Even when the field spread post-powerplay, there was no respite for LSG. The duo’s relentless assault persisted as Head launched the first ball of the seventh over for a six over mid-wicket, and Abhishek soon reached his fifty with a six over long-on.
The boundaries kept coming from both ends, and it became evident that the pair intended to chase down LSG’s target inside 10 overs. Head and Abhishek didn’t let up, batting as if they had a point to prove. Victory was sealed emphatically when Abhishek launched Thakur over cover for a massive six.
. Head remained unbeaten on a blistering 89 off 30 balls, while Abhishek finished with 75 not out off 28 balls. Their innings collectively featured an astounding 16 fours and 14 sixes, leaving the LSG bowlers with forgettable figures.
The roots of SRH’s success were laid earlier in the match by their bowlers, who had done an admirable job of restricting LSG to 165. Consistent breakthroughs prevented LSG from building any significant momentum. Ayush Badoni (55 not out off 30 balls) and Nicholas Pooran (48 not out off 26 balls) formed an impressive partnership, managing to steer LSG to a somewhat respectable total. Their unbeaten 99-run stand during the last 10 overs added some much-needed vitality to the LSG innings, contrasting sharply with the team’s struggles in the first half.
In the initial overs, SRH’s veteran bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar utilized his extensive experience to put LSG under immediate pressure. He conceded only seven runs in his first three overs and claimed the pivotal wickets of Quinton de Kock and Marcus Stoinis. LSG’s score at the end of the powerplay – 27 for two – set the tone for their early struggles. With Krunal Pandya and KL Rahul trying to rebuild, LSG found it tough to increase the scoring rate.
Pandya attempted to inject some momentum in the eighth over, targeting Jaydev Unadkat with two maximums. However, LSG’s overall run rate remained sub-par. The mounting difficulties were exemplified when Rahul departed for 29, and Pandya followed suit after a run-out for 24. It was Pooran and Badoni who finally lifted LSG’s innings, notably attacking T Natarajan in the 14th over with a 16-run effort that bolstered their score.
Badoni reached his fifty in the penultimate over, taking only 28 balls. The last two overs of the LSG innings were particularly productive, with 34 runs coming off them, including a 19-run final over bowled by Pat Cummins, which propelled LSG to 165. While this recovery was impressive given their first half performance, it ultimately proved insufficient against an inspired SRH batting display.
Summarily, SRH’s stunning batting performance, underscored by Head and Abhishek’s explosive partnership, overshadowed LSG’s efforts and secured a memorable 10-wicket victory.