Sports Desk
19 May
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
In an exhilarating encounter at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) clinched a dramatic victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 69th match of IPL 2024. Punjab Kings won the toss and elected to bat first, setting an imposing target of 215 runs for Hyderabad. However, SRH chased down the target with ease, winning by 4 wickets in 19.1 overs.
Batting first, Punjab Kings showcased a powerful performance, amassing 214 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. The batting lineup saw significant contributions from the top and middle order, ensuring a challenging total for the home team. Despite their best efforts, PBKS bowlers couldn’t contain the explosive Hyderabad batting lineup.
SRH faced an early setback when opener Travis Head was dismissed for a duck by Arshdeep Singh at the score of 10. However, Rahul Tripathi steadied the innings with a quick 33 before falling to Harshal Patel. The third wicket saw Abhishek Sharma playing a pivotal role, scoring a brilliant 66 before Shashank Singh ended his stint at the crease. Nitish Reddy added a valuable 37 runs but was also sent back by Harshal Patel.
The pressure was mounting, but Henrich Klaasen rose to the occasion with a crucial 42 runs, keeping SRH in the hunt. Shahbaz Ahmed contributed 3 runs, while Abdul Samad chipped in with 11 runs before his dismissal. In the end, Sanveer Singh’s unbeaten 6 runs guided the Sunrisers to victory.
For Punjab, Arshdeep Singh and Harshal Patel were the standout bowlers, each claiming 2 wickets, while Harpreet Brar and Shashank Singh took one wicket apiece.
With this victory, Sunrisers Hyderabad not only entertained their home crowd but also bolstered their position in the tournament standings. The match will be remembered for its thrilling finish and the remarkable chase by the Hyderabad team.