Sunrisers Hyderabad found themselves in a precarious position after a sluggish start, but Travis Head and Nitish Reddy turned the tide in the middle overs. Head smashed a 44-ball 58, while Nitish remained unbeaten on a blistering 76 off just 42 deliveries. Heinrich Klaasen’s fiery 19-ball 42* provided the final flourish, propelling SRH to a formidable total of 201/3.
Parag, Jaiswal’s Heroics Nearly Seal the Chase
Rajasthan Royals’ chase got off to a rocky start, losing Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson early. However, Riyan Parag (77 off 44) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (67 off 39) took charge, keeping RR ahead of the required rate. Shimron Hetmyer’s cameo kept the chase on track, leaving RR needing 45 off the final five overs.
Death Bowling Spartans Snatch Victory for SRH
SRH’s death bowling unit, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Pat Cummins, turned the game on its head. Cummins’ tight over and Parag’s dismissal shifted the momentum, while Natarajan and Jansen kept RR in check. Cummins’ penultimate over, conceding just one run, left RR needing 13 off the final over. Bhuvneshwar held his nerve, dismissing Rovman Powell on the last ball to secure a thrilling one-run victory for SRH.
In a high-scoring thriller that ebbed and flowed, SRH’s masterclass death bowling proved to be the difference, as they prevailed over the table-toppers in a last-over finish. The nail-biting encounter showcased the batting prowess of both teams and the importance of executing plans under immense pressure.
