IPL WEEK 7: Sunrisers run feast, twice

Another week, another record run splurge as the Sunrisers Hyderabad increased their own tournament record to a scarcely credible 287 for the loss of just three wickets against the hapless Royal Challengers Bengaluru – at the Chiiaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru!

Australian opener Travis Head monstered his way to 102 from 41 balls (9x4, 8x6) while Heinrich Klaasen (67 off 31) and Aiden Markram (32* off 17) weren’t going to be denied their share of the fun. Abdul Samad (37* off 10 balls) actually had the highest strike rate of them all.

Extraordinarily RCB did not wither away in the face of the onslaught and replied with 262-7 to lose by just 25 runs and contribute to a new record aggregate of 549 runs. Faf du Plessis (62 from 28), Virat Kohli (42 from 20) and Dinesh Karthik (83 from 35) all showing that, what the Sunrisers could do, so could they. Almost.

TABLE TOP

The keenly anticipated, top-of-the-table clash between the Rajasthan Royals and the Kolkata Knight Riders lived up to it’s billing with a maiden century for Sunil Narine (109 from 56 balls) helping KKR to an imposing 223-6 before losing by just two-wickets in the highest successful run chase – yet another batting record.

A half-fit Jos Buttler did not field for the Royals but opened the batting as an Impact Player and produced a stunning display of hitting in the final overs to finish 107 not out from 60 balls (9x4, 6x6) to win the match, against all odds, off the final ball.

HEAD OF THE CLASS

The Sunrisers were at it yet again on Saturday with another avalanche of boundaries against the hapless Delhi Capitals as they piled up 266-7 to win by 67 runs in Delhi. Head’s 89 from 32 balls provided a stiff backbone but it is a feature of SRH that different batsmen are doing the hitting.

Head’s fellow opener, Abhishek Sharma, smacked an eye-watering 46 from just 12 balls (2x4, 6x6) with Shabhaz Ahmed contributing 59* from just 29 balls (2x4, 5x6) further down the order.

65 FROM HOW MANY?

The 22-year-old Australian, Jake Fraser-McGurk, continued the rampaging start to his IPL career with 65 from only 18 balls but Delhi were never in the hunt.

The week ended with yet another run-fest at Eden Gardens where the Knight Riders posted 222-6 with opener Phil Salt blasting 48 from 14 balls, ten of which were hit to, or over, the boundary. RCB continued their habit of making a valiant but unsuccessful attempt, this time losing by just a single run off the final ball.

STARC CONTRAST

A sobering reminder that money doesn’t guarantee success, even in the IPL: Mitchell Starc, the most player in the tournament’s history, returned figures of 3-0-55-1 for KKR. Still, he defended 21 in the final over. Just.

The Royals are virtually guaranteed a play-off place with 12 points from seven games closely followed by KKR and SRH on 10 points each. Chennai Super Kings, Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans have eight points apiece.

In the bottom half of the log it’s already looking bleak for the Mumbai Indians and Delhi who have six points while the Punjab Kings (4) and Royal Challengers (2) can think about packing their bags. Metaphorically.