In a spectacular display of dominance, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) achieved a remarkable 10-wicket victory over the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The extraordinary batting prowess of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma was the highlight of the day, further solidifying SRH’s reputation as one of the most formidable batting units in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The target of 166 set by LSG appeared modest in hindsight as SRH chased it down in just 9.4 overs, underscoring their batting mastery.
The explosive performance by SRH began right from the powerplay, a phase they have consistently dominated throughout the tournament. Accumulating a staggering 107 runs during the powerplay alone, SRH effectively sealed the victory within those initial six overs. The LSG bowlers faced relentless assault from the left-handed opening pair, leaving no room for error and showcasing a determination to dominate from the outset.
Remarkably, SRH only managed eight runs in the opening over, but it was in the second over that the floodgates opened. Abhishek Sharma launched into Yash Thakur, hitting four boundaries and setting the tone for what was to come. The third over saw K Gowtham come under attack as Travis Head joined the onslaught, accumulating 22 runs that included three sixes and a four. In an attempt to curb SRH’s momentum, KL Rahul introduced Ravi Bishnoi in the fourth over, but the runs continued to flow unabated. Naveen-ul-Haq’s entrance for the fifth over saw Head reach a lightning-fast half-century off just 16 balls, with that over yielding a further 23 runs.
When Thakur returned to bowl the final over of the powerplay, Abhishek maintained the aggressive tempo, matching Head shot for shot and driving SRH past the 100-run mark. Even when the field spread, SRH showed no signs of easing up. Head started the seventh over with a powerful six over mid-wicket, and Abhishek soon followed with a six that brought up his own fifty, hitting the mark with a shot over long-on.
The carnage continued with boundaries coming in quick succession from both ends. It didn’t matter who was bowling; Head and Abhishek batted as if they had a mission to complete the chase within 10 overs.
. The stunning victory was sealed when Abhishek launched Thakur over cover for a massive six, leaving him unbeaten on 75 off 28 balls and Head on 89 not out from 30 balls. The SRH innings saw 16 fours and 14 sixes, leaving the LSG bowlers with figures they’d rather forget.
Earlier in the match, SRH’s bowlers had done an impressive job of restricting LSG to a total of 165, taking crucial wickets at regular intervals. A significant partnership between Ayush Badoni (55 not out off 30 balls) and Nicholas Pooran (48 not out off 26 balls) helped LSG reach a competitive total. Their unbeaten 99-run stand turned the tide in the last 10 overs of their innings, contrasting significantly with the first half.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar showcased his experience in the early overs, keeping pressure on LSG by conceding only seven runs in his first three overs and claiming the key wickets of Quinton de Kock and Marcus Stoinis. This left LSG reeling at 27 for two by the end of the powerplay, requiring a rebuilding effort from Krunal Pandya and KL Rahul.
Krunal attempted to shift gears in the eighth over by targeting Jaydev Unadkat, hitting two sixes. However, LSG’s scoring rate remained below a run-a-ball, and their troubles deepened when Rahul fell for 29, caught in the deep off Pat Cummins. A critical run-out ended Pandya’s innings at 24 in the 12th over, setting the stage for Pooran and Badoni’s recovery effort.
Pooran drew on his experience while Badoni unleashed aggression, particularly against T Natarajan in the 14th over, hitting three boundaries and injecting much-needed momentum into the innings. Their combined efforts ensured that LSG scored over 10 runs an over from the 14th onwards, barring Bhuvneshwar’s final over which conceded only five runs. Bhuvneshwar finished with impressive figures of two for 12, a standout performance in light of the carnage that would follow.
Badoni’s fifty came up in the penultimate over, achieved off just 28 balls. The final two overs of LSG’s innings yielded 34 runs, including a 19-run last over bowled by Cummins, advancing their total to 165. Despite a commendable recovery in the latter half of their innings, LSG were brought down by the sheer brilliance of Head and Abhishek’s batting for SRH, who were simply invincible on the day.