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In a significant turnaround after just one victory in their preceding four matches, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) significantly bolstered their playoff aspirations with a resounding ten-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 57 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 on Wednesday (May 8). Pursuing a target of 166, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma unleashed a relentless onslaught on the LSG bowlers, guiding their team to victory in a mere 9.4 overs. This remarkable feat not only secured the win but also etched its place in history as the fastest 150+ run chase ever recorded in T20 cricket.
SRH’s resurgent victory over LSG in the IPL 2024
SRH dominated the powerplay, reaching an impressive 107/0, nearly quadrupling LSG’s meager score of 27/2 in the first six overs. This stands as the lowest powerplay total for LSG in their brief IPL history. Despite initial perceptions of a sluggish pitch, Head and Abhishek dispelled any doubts with their aggressive batting display, showcasing their dominance regardless of the conditions.
Also READ: IPL 2024: Fans call for Abhishek Sharma’s inclusion in India’s T20 World Cup squad after SRH crushes LSG
KL Rahul’s reflection on the Hyderabad surface
Following the match, LSG’s skipper KL Rahul expressed his belief that early wickets in the powerplay could have potentially altered the course of the game, but lamented LSG’s failure to capitalize in that crucial phase. He noted that while the pitch conditions remained relatively unchanged, the aggressive mindset and freedom exhibited by Head and Abhishek made it challenging to contain them. Rahul emphasized that when batters are in such form and rhythm, it becomes exceedingly difficult to halt their momentum.
“I think the pitch didn’t change too much, but when you have two batters coming in with that kind of mindset and freedom, and they just tee off from ball one and everything’s connecting, it’s really hard to stop them. The only way to stop teams like that is to get wickets in the powerplay. Unfortunately, if you don’t do that, you’re in trouble. And that’s what we experienced today,” Rahul said during the post-match press conference.
However, KL Rahul conceded that despite falling short by 40-50 runs in the first innings, the aggressive intent displayed by SRH suggested that even a target of 240 would have been achievable on the night, ultimately sealing LSG’s fate.
“Was hard to stop them as they teed off from ball one. Once you are on the losing side, there are questions marks on the decisions taken. We were 40-50 runs short. When we lost wickets in the powerplay, we couldn’t get any momentum. Ayush and Nicky batted well to get us to 166. But even if we would have got 240, they could have chased it as well,” the 32-year-old added.
"Even if we would have got 240, they could have chased it as well."- KL Rahul 🗣#cricket #IPL2024 #klrahul #SRHvLSG #travishead #AbhishekSharma #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/AnxM1xv8iG
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) May 9, 2024
Pat Cummins’ witty remark
After the game, SRH’s captain Pat Cummins humorously suggested the possibility of changing the pitch midway through the clash, implying that perhaps Head and Abhishek had already done so. Notably, while LSG were batting, the pitch seemed sluggish, but it appeared to undergo a significant transformation during SRH’s innings, presenting a different challenge altogether.
“Maybe Travis and Abhishek did. We just let them go, they are two guys who are very positive and I’m a bowler, it is tough for me to give them any inputs,” Cummins said.
