Hyderabad : In a stunning display of cricket, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) delivered a masterclass performance to defeat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by a massive 10 wickets during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 encounter at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
The victory was not just a win but a statement, propelling SRH to the third position on the IPL 2024 leaderboard.
The opening duo for SRH, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, were in sublime form, with Head blasting an explosive 89 off just 30 balls, and Sharma complementing with a rapid 75 from 28 deliveries. Their partnership decimated the LSG bowling attack, leading SRH to a comfortable win in a mere 9.4 overs.
Earlier in the match, LSG’s middle-order batsmen Ayush Badoni and Nicholas Pooran put on a show, stitching together a record-breaking fifth-wicket partnership. Badoni’s quickfire half-century and Pooran’s near half-century (48 off 26 balls) contributed to LSG’s competitive total of 165/4.
However, LSG’s innings had a rocky start with Quinton de Kock falling early to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, thanks to an athletic catch by Nitish Kumar Reddy. Kumar continued his fine form, removing the dangerous Marcus Stoinis for a mere 3 runs, caught by Sanvir Singh.
LSG’s powerplay score of 27 was their slowest start to date, with debutant leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth impressing with his tight bowling and variety, conceding only three runs in his first over.
Despite the early setbacks, LSG captain KL Rahul tried to anchor the innings but struggled to accelerate, scoring 20 off 25 balls. Krunal Pandya attempted to inject some momentum with consecutive sixes off Jaydev Unadkat, but LSG still found themselves in a precarious position at 45 for 2 after eight overs.
Pat Cummins, the skipper for SRH, made crucial breakthroughs, claiming the wickets of both Rahul and Pandya, ensuring that the LSG innings did not take off as planned.
The day belonged to SRH, whose clinical performance with both bat and ball showcased their prowess and sent a clear message to their competitors in the IPL 2024 season.
