SRH Dominates LSG with 10 Wickets Victory as Head, Abhishek, and Bhuvneshwar Shine
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) showcased dominance against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), securing a resounding victory that not only knocked out Mumbai Indians but also propelled SRH to third place on the points table.
The star players in this thrilling encounter were Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who delivered standout performances.
Lucknow Super Giants 165 for 4 (Badoni 55*, Pooran 48*, Bhuvneshwar 2-12) were defeated by Sunrisers Hyderabad 167 for 0 (Head 89*, Abhishek 75*) by ten wickets.
After dominating the Lucknow Super Giants with the new ball for a while, Sunrisers Hyderabad stunned them by scoring 166 in just 9.4 overs, the highest 10-over total in any Twenty20 match. With 14 points from 12 games, the decisive victory moved them up to No. 3 on the points table and provided them with much-needed net run rate support. So vicious was the chase that LSG decided not to use their Impact Player at all.
It is only fitting that a lot of attention be paid to the outstanding batting of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, who reached their fifties in 16 and 19 balls, respectively, and shared the greatest powerplay scores in T20 cricket history by scoring a century together during the second powerplay this IPL.
But SRH set themselves up for victory with the ball. With stats of 4-0-12-2 and only one wicket conceded, Bhuvneshwar Kumar took the lead and shut down the top order of the LSG, which managed just 66 runs in the first 11.2 overs. The unbroken 99-run stand off 52 balls between Ayush Badoni and Nicholas Pooran ultimately proved to be catastrophically inadequate, signifying that the top order had not been aggressive enough.
The Mumbai Indians were the first team at the IPL 2024 to be officially eliminated, and as a result, they were considered collateral damage on the night and were eliminated from the playoffs.
Sensational Bhuvneshwar
First, a note regarding the anxiety surrounding the SRH batters. Part of the reason LSG chose to bat first was because of that worry. Subsequently, they encountered Bhuvneshwar, whose unwavering length attracted movement away from the field. Quinton de Kock, who scored 66 off 66 off Bhuvneshwar overall in Twenty20 cricket, was able to muster just 1 off 4 off him, including a close miss and his wicket, which was well collected by Nitish Reddy at deep-square leg.
Reddy produced an incredible catch that appeared effortless as he lifted the ball above his head, put it back into play, then stepped out and returned to finish the grab. However, Sanvir Singh quickly outdid him with a low catch, leaping forward at mid-on, to send Marcus Stoinis back. With 3-0-7-2, Bhuvneshwar put a stop to the powerplay. When you combine that with Shahbaz Ahmed’s 2-0-9-0, LSG’s powerplay of 27 for 2 was their worst of the year.
Legspinner V Viyaskanth, who was making his IPL debut, kept the lid on after the powerplay until Krunal Pandya struck Jaydev Unadkat for the 999th and 1000th sixes of the competition, giving the innings some momentum. The first one was a terrific straight hook over long-on to a slower bouncer at head height. We had no idea that, by the end of the evening, the shot would be forgotten.
Pooran and Badoni Lifts LSG
KL When the boundaries were not coming in, Krunal was run out by the SRH captain and birthday boy while Rahul, 29 off 33, died attempting to match Pat Cummins’ pace. The first four overs of the innings had taken 9.1 overs, but Badoni and Pooran were consistently finding the boundary. Moving around in the crease and playing field manipulation, Badoni led the charge and reached a fifty in 28 balls.
Toward the end, Pooran joined in, matching Cummins’ and T Natarajan’s pace. Among the fastest bowlers on show, Natarajan and Cummins combined for 97 runs.
Also Read: Sunrisers Hyderabad Win Maiden IPL Title with Tight Victory Over RCB In 2016
Head and Abhishek Destroyed LSG
It was a sensible enough idea for LSG to try to exploit the slow pitch by giving the two left-hand openers K Gowtham’s offspin. However, with Head and Abhishek, plans don’t really seem to matter. In the opening over, Head removed Gowtham for four, and in the second over, Abhishek dismissed Yash Thakur.
Once more, Thakur appeared to be following a sensible bowling strategy: deep-square leg and sweeper cover, bowl into the pitch; but, Abhishek drew him in front of square. He then repositioned the two men on the leg side, and Abhishek carved a space for him to pass through. Plans meant nothing by the time they hit 25 in two overs. Regardless of the ball’s velocity, length, or field, Head and Abhishek just chose their locations and sent the ball there. In total, the ball made that trip to the boundary approximately every other ball.Â
Head’s kneel-down six into the sight screen, Abhishek’s lazy pick-up over wide long-on off Badoni’s offspin, or his extra-cover drive for six to finish the game are all options for you to consider. But no matter how hard you search, it will be difficult to locate a shot more spectacular than Head’s drive of Ravi Bishnoi for a massive six over long-off.
Abhishek finished with 75 off 28 and Head with 89 off 30. Among all LSG bowlers, Gowtham had the best economy, at 14.50.
KL Rahul’s Insight
The electrifying partnership between Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma in the IPL 2024 match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) left fans and pundits alike stunned. Their explosive batting display not only showcased their individual prowess but also highlighted their formidable combination in the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) lineup.
Travis and Abhishek, fondly referred to as “Travishek,” showcased their fearlessness against both pace and spin bowling, setting a new standard in T20 cricket. Their record-breaking performance included chasing down 166 runs in just 58 balls, achieving the highest-ever ten-over score in men’s T20 cricket.
The match witnessed Head’s scintillating 89 not out off 30 balls and Abhishek’s blistering 75 not out off 28 balls, leaving LSG captain KL Rahul in disbelief. Despite LSG’s strong track record in defending totals, they were unable to contain SRH’s onslaught, with Travishek amassing a world-record 125 runs in the powerplay.
Rahul expressed his astonishment, stating, “I’m lost for words,” acknowledging the exceptional skill and hard work exhibited by Head and Abhishek. Their ability to handle spin, demonstrated by Head’s 360-degree batting and Abhishek’s consistent aggression against spinners, added another dimension to SRH’s formidable lineup.
Abhishek credited the team management for their faith in his abilities, leading to his remarkable season performance, surpassing even cricketing legends like Chris Gayle in strike rate and run-scoring. The duo’s contributions to nearly 41% of SRH’s runs this season highlight their pivotal role in the team’s success.
As SRH eyes a playoff berth with two more home games ahead, opponents must prepare to face the unstoppable force of Travishek, capable of turning any match in SRH’s favor. Their blend of power-hitting, strategic prowess, and adaptability against varied bowling attacks make them a force to be reckoned with in the IPL 2024 season.
Also Read: IPL Winners List From 2008 to 2023: Records, Teams, and Historic Moments
Mumbai Indians Knocked Out
If they win their final two games, they will only be able to accumulate 12 points, which is insufficient to qualify for the postseason.
Mumbai Indians (MI) lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by ten wickets with 10.2 overs remaining on Wednesday, making them the first side eliminated from the IPL 2024 playoffs.
After beating the Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders with 16 points apiece, SRH now sits in third place with 14 points after their victory in Hyderabad. On May 14, LSG and DC will play each other. One of them teams will score at least 13 points. If MI wins their final two league games, they can only reach a maximum of 12, which will drop them out of the top four. When the Punjab Kings play the Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Thursday in Dharamsala, the losing team will suffer the same fate.
MI lost three straight games to open the season under new captain Hardik Pandya’s leadership. Despite winning three of their next four games, a run of four straight losses seriously hurt their hopes of making the playoffs.
Their standout performer has been Jasprit Bumrah, who, after 12 games, tops the wicket rankings with 18 wickets at an economy of 6.20. No one has scored more than 400 runs after 12 innings, and none of their other bowlers have been economical enough. Additionally, their hitters have not done well. With 384 runs at an average of 42.66, Tilak Varma leads their scorers, followed by Suryakumar Yadav (334 in nine innings). In 12 innings, Rohit Sharma has only scored 330 runs.
Hardik has also had a bad season, taking 11 wickets at an economy rate of 10.58 and managing just 198 runs in 11 innings. They have given Mohammad Nabi, Romario Shepherd, and Nuwan Thushara opportunities, but they haven’t been able to extract the most out of their foreign players.
Only 13 of their 68 wickets in the competition so far have come from their spin department, which was their weakest point. Although they have triumphed in three of their six home games, they have struggled away from home, with Punjab Kings being the only team they have defeated in five outings.
After winning their fourth and fifth trophies in 2019 and 2020, MI’s early elimination means that their wait for their sixth IPL championship will continue. Since then, they have only once in four seasons made it to the playoffs, losing to the Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 in 2023.
