Before the match, many anticipated that Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) might become the first team to breach the 300-run mark in the IPL. The speculation had merit—SRH had recently amassed 286 for 6 in their previous game in Hyderabad, and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) were missing at least two of their frontline bowlers.
However, 300 remained a distant dream as SRH couldn’t even reach 200. They were restricted to 190 for 9, with Shardul Thakur delivering a stellar performance, claiming 4 for 34—his best IPL figures.
Still, 190 was a competitive total, but Nicholas Pooran made it seem insignificant. He blazed his way to 70 off just 26 deliveries, smashing six fours and six sixes. By the time Pat Cummins trapped him lbw, LSG needed only 71 runs from 68 balls.
Mitchell Marsh, who played a supporting role to Pooran, also notched up a fifty before Abdul Samad sealed the chase.
LSG’s dominant run chase, completed with 23 balls and five wickets in hand, gave SRH a taste of their own medicine. In the previous season at this very venue, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma had dismantled LSG’s 165-run target in just 9.4 overs.
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Shardul Thakur Strikes Twice in Two Deliveries
LSG knew their best chance to contain SRH’s explosive batting lineup was by striking early. Shardul Thakur initially searched for swing in his first over without success. However, in his next, he made an impact by removing Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan off consecutive deliveries. Abhishek mistimed a pull shot straight to deep square leg, while Kishan was caught down the leg side.
Travis Head then went on the attack, smashing Avesh Khan for two sixes and a four in the fourth over. Two overs later, he attempted to take on Ravi Bishnoi but mistimed a slog sweep, sending the ball high towards long-on, where Nicholas Pooran dropped the chance. Four balls later, Bishnoi missed a tough return catch.
Head was on 35 when the first opportunity was missed, but LSG didn’t have to regret it for long. He added just 12 more before Prince Yadav shattered his stumps, claiming his maiden IPL wicket.
Heinrich Klaasen’s Unusual Run Out
Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen helped SRH cross the 100-run mark in the 11th over before Klaasen was dismissed in a bizarre manner. Nitish struck a full toss from Prince Yadav to the bowler’s left, and while Prince couldn’t hold on to the catch, the ball ricocheted off his hands and crashed into the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Klaasen, caught well outside his crease, was run out in freakish fashion.
Shortly after, Ravi Bishnoi bowled Nitish for 32 off 28, putting SRH in a difficult position.
Sixes Galore, But Wickets Tumble
Staying true to their aggressive approach, SRH batters kept attacking, but their flurry of sixes was matched by a steady fall of wickets. Aniket Verma took on Ravi Bishnoi with back-to-back sixes and repeated the feat against Digvesh Rathi in the next over before departing for a blazing 36 off 13 balls.
Pat Cummins, batting at No. 8, made an explosive entry, smashing the first three balls he faced for sixes, only to fall on the fourth delivery. SRH reached 180 for 8 after 18 overs, but their momentum stalled, managing just ten runs in the final two overs.
Pooran Turns the Contest One-Sided
Mohammed Shami gave SRH an early breakthrough by dismissing Aiden Markram in the second over of the chase, but Nicholas Pooran quickly seized control. His first boundary came courtesy of a misfield, followed by two monstrous sixes off Simarjeet Singh over deep midwicket on consecutive deliveries.
Despite the risks, Pat Cummins introduced left-arm spinner Abhishek Sharma against Pooran—a move that backfired instantly. Pooran faced just two balls from him and dispatched both for sixes, extending his record to seven sixes off nine balls against Abhishek in T20 cricket.
Adam Zampa fared no better, as Pooran hammered him for two sixes and a four in the seventh over. In his first 20 balls at the crease, he had already smashed five fours and six sixes, making it clear that LSG was cruising to victory.
Marsh’s Fifty and Samad’s Finishing Touch
Mitchell Marsh was cruising on 37 off 22 balls when Nicholas Pooran departed. Having already smashed two straight sixes off Mohammed Shami in the powerplay, Marsh continued his assault, hitting Pat Cummins for consecutive fours in the 11th over to reach his fifty off just 29 balls. However, Cummins got his revenge soon after, dismissing him at long-on—but by then, the damage was done.
With just 53 needed from the last nine overs, LSG remained in control despite losing Rishabh Pant and Ayush Badoni. Former SRH player Abdul Samad provided the finishing touches, smashing an unbeaten 22 off eight balls to seal a dominant victory.
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FAQs
How did Nicholas Pooran lead LSG to victory against SRH?
Nicholas Pooran smashed 70 off just 26 balls, hitting six fours and six sixes, making LSG’s chase a one-sided affair.
What were Shardul Thakur’s key contributions in the match?
Shardul Thakur picked up 4 for 34, including two wickets in two balls early on, to derail SRH’s batting lineup.
How was Heinrich Klaasen dismissed in the match?
Klaasen was run out in an unusual manner when a ball deflected off bowler Prince Yadav’s hands and hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end.
How did SRH lose momentum despite their aggressive batting?
While SRH batters kept hitting sixes, they also lost wickets at regular intervals, managing only 10 runs in the last two overs.
How did Abdul Samad finish the game for LSG?
Former SRH player Abdul Samad smashed an unbeaten 22 off eight balls, sealing LSG’s win with 23 balls to spare.
