In a high-scoring thriller, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) comfortably chased down a target of 215 set by Punjab Kings (PBKS) courtesy of a record-breaking opening partnership between Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi. The victory, achieved with four wickets and eight balls to spare, keeps SRH’s playoff hopes alive and puts them in contention for a top-two finish.
Punjab Kings Bat First Despite Early Showers
Opting to bat first despite some rain, PBKS openers Prabhsimran Singh and Atharva Taide got their side off to a flying start. The duo capitalized on a pitch that offered little assistance to the bowlers, finding the boundary with ease. Singh, in particular, was brutal against Bhuvneshwar Kumar, taking him for back-to-back boundaries, one of which was a lucky inside edge. Both batsmen targeted anything short, punishing deliveries on the leg side with powerful pulls. This flurry of boundaries ensured a solid foundation for PBKS heading into the middle overs.
Middle Overs: Punjab Maintain Momentum
The introduction of spin did not faze the Punjab batsmen. Taide dispatched Viyaskanth over midwicket for a six, while Singh followed suit against Shabaz Ahmed. Just as both were nearing their fifties, Taide mistimed a cut shot off T Natarajan and was caught at backward point. However, the dismissal did not disrupt the flow of runs. Rilee Rossouw took over the mantle of the aggressor, smashing a six off Nitish Reddy and a boundary off a free hit. Singh, meanwhile, reached his well-deserved half-century with another six, showcasing his dominance against the spinners. His innings was unfortunately cut short on 71, but he had successfully transitioned the role of enforcer to a well-set Rossouw.
Death Overs: Jitesh Sharma’s Late Surge Lifts Punjab
The death overs saw Punjab lose their way briefly as SRH tightened their fielding. Nitish Reddy effected a smart run-out of Shashank Singh, while Sandeep Singh took a sensational catch to dismiss Ashutosh Sharma. Pat Cummins and Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled economically, giving away only six runs each in their respective overs. However, Punjab managed to recover some momentum in the final two overs. Nitish Reddy was taken for 15 runs in the penultimate over, and skipper Jitesh Sharma took charge in the final over, slamming a four and two successive sixes to propel PBKS to a total of 214.
Sunrisers Hyderabad Reply with Record-Breaking Intent
SRH’s chase began on a shaky note as Arshdeep Singh dismissed the dangerous Travis Head with the very first ball. However, the dismissal proved to be a mere blip as Rahul Tripathi and Abhishek Sharma unleashed mayhem on the PBKS bowling attack. The bowling, which lacked penetration, was ruthlessly taken apart by the two openers. Harshal Patel’s expensive spell of 22 runs in five overs did not help Punjab’s cause, and by the time Tripathi was dismissed, he had already done the damage with four boundaries and two sixes in his 18-ball knock.
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Middle Overs: SRH Maintain Grip on the Chase
Similar to PBKS, SRH ensured there was no respite in their scoring rate. Sharma continued his onslaught, reaching a 21-ball fifty with consecutive boundaries off Shabaz Ahmed. His partner, Nitish Reddy, provided valuable support with crucial boundaries against Rahul Chahar. While Sharma was dismissed soon after, slicing a delivery to deep point, Heinrich Klaasen continued the aggressive approach, taking sixes off both Chahar and Harpreet Brar. Reddy’s dismissal, caught at point off Harshal Patel’s reintroduction, did not derail the chase as his 37-run knock had laid a solid foundation. With partnerships of 47 and 57 with Sharma and Klaasen respectively, Reddy had played a crucial role in SRH’s strong position. By the time he departed, SRH required only 33 runs from the last five overs.
End Overs: Klaasen Steers SRH Home Comfortably
Despite losing a couple of wickets towards the end, SRH’s chase never seemed in doubt. Klaasen finished unbeaten on 42, ensuring a comfortable victory for his side. This win puts SRH on 17 points in the points table, with a good chance of making it to the playoffs and even challenging for a top-two finish.
Record-breaking Night for SRH
The match was a night of records for SRH. Abhishek Sharma broke the record for the most sixes hit by an Indian batsman in a season, while SRH set a new record for the most sixes hit by any team in
