In what can only be described as a cricketing masterclass, the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) delivered a resounding 10-wicket victory over the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The dynamic duo of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma stole the show with an explosive batting display, proving once again why the SRH lineup is among the most formidable in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Chasing down a target of 166, SRH needed only 9.4 overs to achieve victory, highlighting the sheer dominance of their performance.
The tone for the match was set in the powerplay, a stage of the game SRH has consistently controlled throughout the tournament. Scoring a staggering 107 runs within six overs, they effectively sealed the game in their favor early on. Facing an almost insurmountable challenge, the LSG bowlers struggled to find any form of reprieve, as the left-handed opening partnership expressed their intentions to dominate from the get-go.
It was indeed an astonishing feat, especially considering SRH’s understated start of eight runs in the first over. The subsequent overs saw an unleashing of breathtaking shots, with Abhishek Sharma smashing four boundaries off Yash Thakur in the second over. As K Gowtham delivered the third over, Travis Head took center stage, hammering three sixes and a four, accumulating 22 runs in that span. This forced a strategic recalibration for LSG, prompting captain KL Rahul to bring Ravi Bishnoi into the attack for the fourth over. Nevertheless, the SRH juggernaut continued unabated. The momentum surged as Naveen-ul-Haq took charge of the fifth over, with Head propelling himself to a rapid-fire half-century off just 16 balls, as the over yielded 23 runs.
Yash Thakur, once again faced with the daunting task of bowling in the powerplay, watched as Abhishek matched Head shot-for-shot, taking SRH beyond the 100-run mark. As the fielding restrictions relaxed, there was little solace for LSG. Head’s aggressive start in the seventh over, with a six over mid-wicket, only reinforced SRH’s relentless pursuit of the target. Meanwhile, Abhishek reached his half-century with an impressive six over long-on.
The boundaries continued to rain down from both ends, rendering the specific choice of bowler inconsequential. Head and Abhishek were batting with a determined intent, appearing as though their mission was to reach the target within 10 overs. The victory was sealed when Abhishek launched Thakur over cover for a towering six.
. Head remained unbeaten on a staggering 89 runs off just 30 balls, while Abhishek finished with 75 not out off 28 balls. The SRH innings was a spectacle of power-hitting, featuring 16 fours and 14 sixes. For the LSG bowlers, it was a day best forgotten, their figures encasing a challenging outing.
Earlier in the day, the SRH bowling attack had restricted LSG to 165, courtesy of incisive bowling that impeded their top-order progress with regular wickets. A formidable partnership between Ayush Badoni, with an unbeaten 55 off 30 balls, and Nicholas Pooran, who contributed an aggressive 48 off 26 balls, enabled LSG to reach their total. The 99-run stand was instrumental in the final 10 overs of their innings, contrasting sharply with the dreariness of their opening half.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was instrumental with the new ball, leveraging his experience to stifle the LSG batters, conceding only seven runs in his first three overs while claiming the scalps of Quinton de Kock and Marcus Stoinis. LSG’s struggles were evident, as they were pegged back to 27 for two by the end of the powerplay. The onus of rebuilding fell to Krunal Pandya and KL Rahul.
Krunal Pandya attempted to break shackles in the eighth over, targeting Jaydev Unadkat with two sixes; however, LSG’s overall run rate remained below par. Further compounding their challenges, Rahul fell for 29, mistiming one off Pat Cummins and into the deep. Pandya’s run out for 24 in the twelfth over left the team in a precarious position, paving the way for a resurgent partnership between Pooran and Badoni.
Nicholas Pooran showcased his seasoned approach, while Badoni injected the innings with aggression, breathing life back into LSG’s innings. In T Natarajan’s 14th over, Badoni unfurled a series of boundaries, delivering three fours and injecting much-needed impetus into their innings. LSG benefited from a sequence of overs exceeding ten runs since the 14th, save for Bhuvneshwar’s final over which yielded only five runs. Concluding with exceptional figures of two for 12, Bhuvneshwar stood out conspicuously given the high-scoring affair that followed later.
Badoni celebrated a well-deserved fifty in the penultimate over, reaching the milestone from a brisk 28 balls. The closing overs saw LSG manage 34 runs, including a productive final over from Cummins that went for 19, anchoring their final total at 165. Considering LSG’s early struggles, their recovery was commendable and potentially hopeful as they defended their score. Yet, on this day, the brilliance of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma overwhelmed all obstacles.