Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma produced one of the most destructive batting displays in IPL history as they chased down a victory target of 166 in just 9.4 overs to give the Sunrisers Hyderabad a 10-wicket victory in their crucial match against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
Australian Head finished unbeaten on 89 from a staggering 30 balls with eight fours and eight sixes while Abhishek was just a whisper slower with 75 not out from 28 balls with an equal number of fours and six maximums.
In a season of breath-taking batting records, mostly set by the Sunrisers, this was the most extraordinary of all.
WHAT. A. CHASE 🧡
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 8, 2024
A 🔟-wicket win for @SunRisers with more than 🔟 overs to spare!
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/46Rn0QwHfi#TATAIPL | #SRHvLSG pic.twitter.com/kOxzoKUpXK
Lucknow’s opening bowler, Krishnappa Gowtham, was the most economical of the five who were used – and abused – with figures of 2-0-29-0.
The other figures are best not published to protect the innocent.
Job done inside 10 OVERS 💪👏
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 8, 2024
A word to describe this opening partnership? ✍️
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/46Rn0QwHfi#TATAIPL | #SRHvLSG pic.twitter.com/Ug2oscPkDJ
SUPER GIANTS UNNERVED
Earlier Ayush Badoni and Nicholas Pooran added an undefeated 99 for the fifth wicket but the Lucknow Super Giants could only muster a well below-par total of 165-4 after choosing to bat first.
The visitors displayed an embarrassing excess of caution on a slowish pitch after losing two early wickets as they limped to a modest 27-2 after six overs in the Power Play.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was yet again outstanding with 2-12 from his four overs as he removed big guns Quinton de Kock (2) and Marcus Stoinis (3) in his second and third overs with the new ball to unnerve the Super Giants.
Captain KL Rahul responded with an ultra-cautious 29 from 33 balls before opposite number Pat Cummins removed him with the last ball of the 10th over with the score a tepid 57-3.
When Cummins ran out Krunal Pandya (24 from 21) with a brilliant direct hit from mid on the visitors were 66-4.
But Badoni’s unbeaten 55 from 30 balls with nine fours and Pooran’s 48 not out from 26 balls with six fours and a six proved that conditions were not remotely as awkward as the earlier batting had suggested.
Ayush Badoni providing #LSG a solid fightback👊
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 8, 2024
He reaches his 2️⃣nd FIFTY of the season 👏
Follow the Match ▶️ https://t.co/46Rn0QwHfi#TATAIPL | #SRHvLSG pic.twitter.com/8gkB3YiQkf
Head and Abhishek confirmed that it was, in fact, a batting paradise with their unbridled, unhinged and wild assault -- the like of which has never been seen before in the tournament.
For his stellar performance with the bat, Travis Head wins the Player of the Match award 🏆
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 8, 2024
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/46Rn0QwHfi#TATAIPL | #SRHvLSG | @SunRisers pic.twitter.com/MCXUHtGxbn
Log-leaders Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals are almost guaranteed places in the playoff matches with eight wins and 16 points from their 11 matches but the Sunrisers and the Super Giants were in a four-team scrap on 12 points looking for a place in the knockout phase.
Having massively improved their already dominant run-rate, the Sunrisers now move into sole possession of third place ahead of Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals and Lucknow.
SUNRISERS HYDERABAD: Travis Head, Nitish Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (wkt), Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Sanvir Singh, Pat Cummins (captain), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, T Natarajan
LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS: Quinton de Kock, KL Rahul (captain/wkt), Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Krishnappa Gowtham, Yash Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Naveen-ul-Haq