By Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma Lead Sunrisers Hyderabad to a Convincing Victory Over Lucknow Super Giants
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma delivered a stellar performance, guiding their team to a resounding victory against Lucknow Super Giants in Hyderabad. The duo’s explosive partnership helped SRH chase down 166 runs with 62 balls to spare, significantly improving their Net Run Rate and propelling them to the third spot on the points table. Out of the 58 balls they faced, 30 were dispatched to the boundary, leading to a dominant 10-wicket win for their team.
Key Difference in the Match
The powerplay saw a stark contrast in performance between the two teams. SRH blazed their way to 107/0, hitting eight sixes compared to LSG’s meager 27/2. This early onslaught by SRH set the tone for the match, with the duo of Head and Abhishek completely dominating the chase.
Lucknow Super Giants
Powerplay: LSG Struggle Early On
LSG: 27/2 (RR: 4.50, 0x4s, 1x6s)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s impressive spell, supported by Shahbaz Ahmed, restricted LSG to their lowest-ever powerplay score. The LSG batters found it hard to time the ball, losing key wickets – Quinton de Kock and Marcus Stoinis – within the first six overs.
Middle Overs: LSG Fight Back but Stutter
LSG: 75/2 (RR: 8.22, 6x4s, 3x6s)
Krunal Pandya’s aggressive batting provided some momentum to LSG, but he lacked support from the other end. Rahul was caught out and Krunal was run out, halting LSG’s progress. Despite some good bowling rotations, LSG couldn’t accelerate their innings.
Death Overs: Badoni, Pooran Lead LSG to a Respectable Total
LSG: 63/0 (RR: 12.60, 10x4s, 0x6s)
Badoni and Pooran unleashed an assault in the death overs, countering SRH’s plans with aggressive strokes. Badoni’s unorthodox shots helped him score his fastest IPL half-century, and their partnership of 99 runs guided LSG to a respectable total.
Head, Abhishek Lead the Way as LSG are Overwhelmed
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Powerplay: Head, Abhishek Dominate LSG
SRH: 107/0 (RR: 17.83, 13x4s, 8x6s)
SRH started cautiously but soon accelerated, with Abhishek Sharma leading the charge. The duo attacked the LSG bowlers, with Gowtham bearing the brunt of their aggression. Head reached his joint-fastest IPL half-century, setting a strong foundation for the chase.
Middle Overs: SRH Maintain the Pressure
SRH: 60/0 in 3.4 overs (RR: 17.65, 3x4s, 6x6s)
The middle overs witnessed a relentless assault by Head and Abhishek, with SRH posting the highest-ever score within the first 10 overs in IPL history. Their aggression continued, with Badoni and Bishnoi conceding runs.
With this win, SRH not only boosted their NRR but also eliminated Mumbai Indians from the qualification race.
Brief Scores: Lucknow Super Giants 165/4 in 20 overs (Ayush Badoni 55, Nicholas Pooran 48; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2-12) lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad 167 for no loss in 9.4 overs (Travis Head 89, Abhishek Sharma 75) by 10 wickets
Upcoming Matches:
LSG will face Delhi Capitals on May 14, while Sunrisers Hyderabad will host Gujarat Titans on May 16.
