In a display of extraordinary cricketing prowess, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) cruised to a commanding 10-wicket victory over the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 witnessed another explosive performance from SRH’s dynamic batting duo, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. Their unrelenting attack shredded through LSG’s target of 166 in just 9.4 overs, reinforcing why SRH’s batting lineup remains one of the most formidable in the league.
From the onset, SRH was synonymous with power-packed performance, especially during the powerplay—a phase they have consistently dominated throughout the tournament. Achieving an astoundingly high score of 107 runs in the powerplay alone virtually sealed the match in their favor. This spectacle left the LSG bowlers with little room for error, as the aggressive left-handed pair of Head and Sharma seemed intent on making the day theirs.
The start was modest, with only eight runs scored in the first over, but the fireworks began shortly thereafter. Abhishek Sharma took charge in the second over, effortlessly driving four consecutive boundaries off the bowling of Yash Thakur. K Gowtham, who was introduced for the third over, found himself under siege as Travis Head launched a ferocious onslaught, collecting 22 runs including three towering sixes and a four. In response, KL Rahul turned to Ravi Bishnoi in the fourth over, hoping to curb the run flow, but SRH’s momentum remained unbroken. Head continued his ballistic form, racing to a 16-ball half-century during the fifth over bowled by Naveen-ul-Haq, which bled 23 runs.
Yash Thakur returned to bowl the final over of the powerplay, only to witness Abhishek Sharma matching Head’s exuberance shot for shot, pushing SRH beyond the 100-run mark even before the fielding restrictions were lifted. Many anticipated a slowdown as the field spread, but the seventh over quashed those hopes. Head sent the very first delivery sailing over mid-wicket for another six, and shortly thereafter, Sharma reached his half-century with an audacious six over long-on.
Remarkably, SRH’s aggressive intent persisted unabated. Boundaries seemed to flow from both ends effortlessly, and it was inconsequential who took up the ball next. With their eyes set on wrapping up the chase within 10 overs, both batsmen stood firm, with victory sealed in style as Abhishek hammered Thakur over cover for a colossal six.
. Head closed out the innings unbeaten on a dazzling 89 off just 30 deliveries, while Abhishek finished with a powerful 75 not out from 28 deliveries. The innings included an astounding total of 16 fours and 14 sixes—a stat line that succinctly summed up the torrid time faced by LSG’s bowlers.
Earlier in the day, SRH’s bowlers had set the stage by restricting LSG to a total of 165. A concerted effort saw them disrupt LSG’s top order with frequent wicket-taking, comprising early blows that saw the back of crucial batsmen. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s opening spell was particularly notable, drawing on his vast experience to stifle the LSG batsmen. His initial three overs were almost impenetrable, conceding just seven runs while dismissing both Quinton de Kock and Marcus Stoinis. By the end of the powerplay, LSG found themselves floundering at 27 for two, necessitating a cautious rebuild led by Krunal Pandya and KL Rahul.
Pandya attempted to break the shackles in the eighth over, targeting Jaydev Unadkat with two hefty sixes. Yet, LSG’s scoring rate lingered below par overall, compounded further by Rahul’s dismissal for 29, courtesy of a sharp catch off Pat Cummins. The 12th over spelled more trouble for LSG with Pandya’s unfortunate run-out at 24. However, a late resurgence was on the cards, thanks to Nicholas Pooran and Ayush Badoni’s tenacity.
The pair’s unbeaten stand of 99 in the final ten overs provided much-needed resilience to the innings. Badoni, in particular, injected aggression and vitality into LSG’s decline. When T Natarajan was deployed for the 14th over, Badoni took the opportunity to hit three fours, providing much-needed impetus to the innings. Their partnership managed to secure over 10 runs in every over henceforth, barring Bhuvneshwar’s final over that conceded just a mere five runs—a remarkable feat considering the eventual fate of the match.
Badoni brought up his half-century in the penultimate over, requiring just 28 balls to reach the milestone. The final two overs yielded an additional 34 runs, including a fruitful last over by Cummins who conceded 19 runs, guiding LSG to a final tally of 165. While the recovery from LSG’s initial struggles was admirable, it ultimately proved insufficient against the relentless charge of Head and Sharma, who were untouchable on the day.