Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) delivered a commanding performance to secure a 10-wicket triumph over the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The dynamic duo of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma orchestrated a breathtaking batting display that underscored SRH’s reputation as one of the most formidable batting line-ups in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Chasing down a target of 166 in just 9.4 overs, SRH showcased an extraordinary level of dominance.
The stage for this emphatic victory was set during the powerplay, a phase where SRH has consistently excelled throughout the tournament. With a staggering 107 runs accumulated in the first six overs, SRH effectively put the game beyond LSG’s reach early on. The bowlers from the visiting team found themselves under relentless pressure, as the left-handed opening pair seemed determined to dominate every delivery.
Remarkably, SRH’s explosive intent wasn’t immediately apparent, with only eight runs coming off the first over. However, the tide turned dramatically in the second over as Abhishek Sharma unleashed a barrage of boundaries, smashing Yash Thakur for four consecutive fours. K Gowtham’s third over saw Travis Head stepping up to the plate, hammering three sixes and a four to amass 22 runs. In a bid to stem the flow of runs, LSG captain KL Rahul brought Ravi Bishnoi into the attack, but even this tactical change could not disrupt the SRH juggernaut.
When Naveen-ul-Haq came on to bowl the fifth over, Travis Head maintained the onslaught and raced to a scintillating half-century off just 16 balls. That over yielded another 23 runs, further solidifying SRH’s stranglehold on the game. Thakur’s return for the sixth over of the powerplay was met with continued aggression, as Abhishek Sharma matched Head shot for shot, leading SRH past the century mark.
With the field restrictions lifted, many anticipated a respite for the LSG bowlers. However, SRH’s relentless pursuit of the target continued unabated. Head smashed a six over mid-wicket from the first ball of the seventh over, followed by Abhishek reaching his fifty with a monstrous six over long-on. The barrage of boundaries showed no signs of abating, and it became evident that SRH aimed to chase down the target within 10 overs.
The victory was sealed in spectacular fashion when Abhishek Sharma clubbed Thakur over cover for a six. Head remained unbeaten with an impressive 89 off 30 balls, while Abhishek finished on 75 not out from 28 balls.
. The innings featured a total of 16 fours and 14 sixes, reflecting the sheer dominance of the SRH openers. For the LSG bowlers, it was a day to forget, as their figures bore the brunt of SRH’s onslaught.
Earlier in the match, SRH’s bowlers had put in a disciplined performance to restrict LSG to 165 by consistently taking wickets at crucial intervals. LSG’s innings was held together by a resilient unbeaten partnership between Ayush Badoni (55 not out off 30 balls) and Nicholas Pooran (48 not out off 26 balls), which flourished in the final 10 overs. This partnership added a much-needed boost to LSG’s total after a shaky start.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s experience was on full display in the initial overs, applying pressure on the LSG top order. His first three overs conceded just seven runs and netted two crucial wickets, those of Quinton de Kock and Marcus Stoinis. At the end of the powerplay, LSG’s score stood at a precarious 27 for two, necessitating a rebuild by Krunal Pandya and KL Rahul.
Pandya tried to accelerate the innings in the eighth over by hitting Jaydev Unadkat for two sixes. However, LSG’s scoring rate remained below a run-a-ball, and further setbacks ensued when Rahul fell for 29, mistiming a shot off Pat Cummins, and Pandya was run out for 24 in the 12th over. This brought Pooran and Badoni together at the crease.
While Pooran displayed his experience and strategic acumen, Badoni injected much-needed aggression into the innings. His attack on T Natarajan in the 14th over, which saw him hitting three fours, was a key moment that reignited LSG’s innings. From the 14th over onwards, LSG managed to score over 10 runs per over, except for Bhuvneshwar’s last over, which conceded just five runs. Bhuvneshwar finished with remarkable figures of two for 12.
Badoni celebrated his fifty in the penultimate over, having faced just 28 deliveries. The final two overs of LSG’s innings produced 34 runs, with Cummins’s last over going for 19, propelling LSG to a competitive total of 165. Given their early struggles, this recovery was quite remarkable and would have raised their hopes for defending the target. However, Head and Abhishek’s extraordinary batting display overshadowed these efforts and secured a memorable victory for SRH.