By Records Broken as Sunrisers Hyderabad Dominate in Batting Blitz
Sunrisers Hyderabad set a new record for the highest-ever IPL score, surpassing their own 277 against Mumbai Indians earlier in the season. Travis Head achieved the fastest hundred by an SRH batter, reaching the milestone in just 39 balls. SRH also hit 22 sixes, the most in any IPL innings. Head’s eight sixes were the joint-most by any SRH batter in IPL history. Heinrich Klaasen, promoted to No. 3, scored 67 runs, including 7 sixes.
The onslaught of hitting
SRH’s approach to batting was highlighted by their aggressive six-hitting. Put in to bat, Pat Cummins joked that 240 was a par total at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, but his batters seemed determined to surpass that. Abhishek Sharma and Head stole the show with a 108-run stand in just 49 balls. Abhishek matched Head stroke for stroke, and the duo toyed with RCB’s attack, regardless of the bowling changes made. Klaasen joined the onslaught, hitting Mahipal Lomror for two sixes to kickstart his innings, while Head dominated the pacers. Head reached his fifty in just 20 balls within the powerplay, and the onslaught continued as SRH reached 200 in just 15 overs.
No respite for RCB
Despite making several changes, dropping players like Glenn Maxwell and Mohammad Siraj, RCB could not change their fortunes. SRH’s dominant performance left no room for RCB to recover. No bowler was spared, with Yash Dayal’s four overs going for 69 runs, becoming the second-most expensive spell in IPL history. No RCB bowler had an economy rate less than 10.70. Even when it wasn’t Head or Klaasen, Aiden Markram and Abdul Samad contributed, smashing 56 runs in the last three overs.
Hyderabad Breaks their Record
Was the pitch a batting paradise?
The pitch, though appearing two-paced, turned out to be a batting paradise. Batsmen found it easy to pick up the slower balls and hit them for sixes.
Were SRH put under pressure?
In a match dominated by batting, the bowlers became mere spectators. Despite starting with left-arm spin, which has troubled RCB’s openers in the past, Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis got RCB off to a flying start, scoring 80 runs in just 38 balls. Du Plessis led the charge with a quick fifty before RCB faced some setbacks.
What were the setbacks?
RCB lost Kohli and then saw Will Jacks being run out, setting them back. Pat Cummins further dented RCB’s hopes by dismissing Du Plessis, Saurav Chauhan, and Mahipal Lomror. However, Dinesh Karthik’s brilliant innings saved RCB from complete collapse.
Brief Scores: SRH 287/3 in 20 overs (Travis Head 102, Heinrich Klaasen 67) beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru 262/7 in 20 overs (Dinesh Karthik 83, Faf Du Plessis 52; Pat Cummins 3-43) by 26 runs
What’s next?
RCB has a five-day break before facing the Kolkata Knight Riders on April 21, while SRH travels to Delhi to play against the Capitals on April 20.
