In a mesmerizing display of top-notch cricket, the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) achieved a comprehensive 10-wicket triumph over the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. This memorable victory came as a result of an aggressive and impeccable batting performance by the opening pair, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. This dominating duo underscored SRH’s reputation as one of the most formidable batting sides in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Chasing a target of 166, SRH reached the goal in a mere 9.4 overs, a feat that encapsulates the remarkable prowess they exhibited with the bat.
The SRH team showcased its explosive batting from the get-go, especially highlighting their dominance in the powerplay—a phase where they have consistently overshadowed opponents throughout this season. An astonishing 107 runs were amassed by SRH in the powerplay itself, effectively sealing the fate of the match early on. The LSG bowlers, trapped in an unenviable position, struggled to find a breakthrough as the left-handed opening pair of Head and Abhishek diligently took control of the game.
What added to the surreal nature of SRH’s achievement was that they started cautiously with just eight runs in the first over. However, the subsequent second over marked a turning point, as Abhishek Sharma unleashed a series of boundaries, striking four consecutive fours off Yash Thakur. Things only intensified when K Gowtham bowled the third over, with Head launching a ferocious assault, scoring 22 runs, inclusive of three towering sixes and a boundary. To try and regain control, KL Rahul deployed spinner Ravi Bishnoi in the fourth over, but the plan faltered as runs continued to flow without pause.
The following was no different when Naveen-ul-Haq came into bowl the fifth over. Head demonstrated his intent and reached a lightning-fast 16-ball half-century, culminating yet another over with 23 runs. As Thakur prepared to bowl the concluding over of the powerplay, Abhishek matched the aggressive tempo set by Head, propelling SRH beyond the 100-run mark. Even as the field spread, which typically signifies a decrease in scoring rate, Head launched the seventh over with a six over mid-wicket, followed by Abhishek reaching his half-century with a similar six over long-on.
From that moment on, SRH seemed to be hitting boundaries with virtually every delivery, completely unfazed by any bowler or strategy employed by LSG. Head and Abhishek remained focused on achieving their target within 10 overs, and they almost accomplished it. Victory ensued when Abhishek dispatched a delivery from Thakur high over the cover field for a six, marking a brilliant end to SRH’s innings.
. Head closed the innings unbeaten at 89 runs off 30 deliveries, while Abhishek remained not out with a 75 off 28 balls. The stunning innings featured an astounding 16 fours and 14 sixes that left the LSG bowlers reeling beyond recovery.
Earlier, SRH’s bowlers meticulously limited LSG to a score of 165 by consistently disrupting their top order with well-placed wickets. The total was only made possible due to a critical partnership between Ayush Badoni and Nicholas Pooran. Badoni, remaining unbeaten at 55 off 30 balls, and Pooran, also not out with 48 off 26 balls, mounted a strong resistance, compiling a crucial 99-run stand in the closing 10 overs. This partnership contrasted starkly with LSG’s initial 10 overs, which yielded minimal returns.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, utilizing all his seasoned expertise, initially tightened the noose around LSG’s batting. His opening three overs were a masterclass in precision bowling, allowing only seven runs and claiming vital wickets of Quinton de Kock and Marcus Stoinis. At the end of the powerplay, LSG’s restrained score of 27 for two necessitated rebuilding, guided by Krunal Pandya and KL Rahul.
Attempting a momentum shift, Pandya blazed two sixes off Jaydev Unadkat in the eighth over. Nevertheless, LSG’s overall run rate struggled to rise above a run-per-ball. The passage of play turned more complicated with Rahul’s fall at 29, succumbing to Pat Cummins’ crafty bowling, while Pandya was run-out for 24 in the 12th over, preceding Pooran and Badoni’s alliance.
Pooran anchored the innings with measured play, while Badoni injected much-needed aggression, especially evident when T Natarajan came on for the 14th over. Badoni skillfully found the gaps for three consecutive fours, giving LSG a fresh lease of life and shifting the scoring rate. Thereon, LSG capitalized on the innings, consistently surpassing the 10-run mark per over, barring Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s final, restrictive five-run over that capped a stunning individual performance, ending at two wickets for 12 runs—a stark contrast to the high run-scoring nature of the latter part of the match.
It was Badoni who achieved his fifty in the penultimate over, reaching it off just 28 balls. The final two overs fetched LSG a total of 34 runs, with 19 extracted from the concluding over bowled by Cummins, helping LSG reach 165. Although the resurrection effort was noteworthy, providing them a measure of hope, the subsequent innings revealed the inimitable dominance of Head and Abhishek, who fashioned a batting spectacle too overwhelming for LSG to contain.