Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) put up a staggering display of power-hitting to secure a resounding 10-wicket victory over the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 57 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The deadly duo of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma was at the forefront of this spectacular win, turning what could have been a competitive chase into a shocking rout. Chasing a target of 166, SRH reached the finish line in just 9.4 overs, highlighting their superiority and electric form.
The match began with LSG setting a seemingly defendable target of 165, credit to a well-constructed partnership between Ayush Badoni, who remained not out on 55 off 30 balls, and Nicholas Pooran, who contributed an unbeaten 48 off 26 balls. Their unbeaten 99-run stand was the only silver lining in an otherwise dismal batting performance that saw LSG struggling initially against a disciplined SRH bowling attack.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar starred with the ball for SRH, utilizing his experience to stifle the top order. In his spell, he managed to grab two wickets, giving away just 12 runs in four overs. Kumar’s early strikes included the crucial wickets of Quinton de Kock and Marcus Stoinis, setting the tone for SRH’s dominance. Also contributing to the disciplined bowling efforts was T Natarajan and Pat Cummins, who kept the batsmen on a tight leash.
As LSG tried to rebuild after the early setbacks, captain KL Rahul and Krunal Pandya took charge. Pandya upped the ante in the eighth over against Jaydev Unadkat, striking two sixes, but overall, the team was trudging along at a below-par run rate. Rahul’s departure at 29 marked another turning point, as he fell to Cummins. The dismissals forced LSG to reassess their approach yet again, creating immense pressure on the middle order.
From the 12th over onward, the dynamic pair of Pooran and Badoni attempted to resurrect the innings with a blend of caution and aggression. Their partnership provided the much-needed spark, guiding LSG to accelerate in the final overs. Badoni’s hat-trick of fours against Natarajan in the 14th over marked the onset of their late surge. Each over from the 14th onwards saw LSG consistently scoring over 10 runs, giving the innings a semblance of respectability and hope.
In contrast to LSG’s late revival, the SRH response was swift and brutal. Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head walked in with clear intent and executed the chase with clinical precision. They made an unassuming start, scoring just eight runs in the first over but soon unleashed a torrent of boundaries. Abhishek led the onslaught in the second over, hammering Yash Thakur for four consecutive fours.
. The onslaught intensified further in the third over, when Head dismantled K Gowtham’s bowling with three massive sixes and a four, yielding 22 runs off the over.
Ravi Bishnoi’s introduction in the fourth over did little to stem the flow of runs. The wickets remained elusive as Abhishek and Head maintained their brisk scoring rate. By the time Head smashed a 16-ball half-century, it was clear that SRH were on course for an unprecedented finish. Each bowler tried but failed to contain the rampant openers.
SRH’s onslaught meant they had already crossed 100 runs by the end of the powerplay itself. Even as the field restrictions eased, the urgency did not drop. Head continued his dominance hitting an emphatic six off the first ball of the seventh over, and Abhishek completed his fifty with a towering six over the long-on region. Together, they plundered 16 fours and 14 sixes in the 9.4-over blitzkrieg, giving another masterclass in modern T20 batting.
The final flourish came when Abhishek dispatched Thakur over cover for a substantial six, securing the victory in grand style. Head remained unbeaten at 89 off just 30 balls while Abhishek was not out on 75 off 28 balls. The standout feature of their inning wasn’t just the boundary count but the consistency and ease with which they maneuvered each bowling change.
LSG’s bowling figures, epitomized their dismal day. None of the bowlers found an answer to the marauding SRH openers. The unrelenting assault was too much to handle, and each bowler bore the brunt of SRH’s aggression.
In retrospect, despite LSG’s initial struggle and late resurgence, their score of 165 was never safe from the moment SRH’s openers walked in. What was supposed to be a challenging chase was reduced to a formality by the brilliance of Head and Abhishek. Their explosive batting performance not only secured a win but stamped SRH’s authority as a force to be reckoned with in the IPL 2024.
The comprehensive win reaffirms SRH’s status as one of the tournament’s most lethal teams and sets them up promisingly as they look towards the remaining matches and the playoffs. For LSG, it’s back to the drawing board as they contemplate the lessons from this thrashing and aim to iron out the creases in their campaign ahead.