Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 182/9 in 20 overs, where as Punjab Kings scored 180/6 in 20 overs.
So, finally Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Punjab Kings by 2 runs.
Sunrisers Hyderabad secured a nail-biting two-run victory while defending 182, marking their third win of IPL 2024.
Ashutosh and Shashank shine
In a thrilling encounter, reminiscent of Punjab’s previous triumph, Ashutosh and Shashank showcased an exhilarating display of hitting in the dying stages.
With Sunrisers defending 29 runs off the final over, Jaydev Unadkat’s erratic bowling, including three wides and three dropped catches, added to the drama.
Ashutosh’s raw power combined with Shashank Singh’s finesse kept Punjab in the hunt.
Shashank kickstarted the onslaught by striking three boundaries off Bhuvneshwar Kumar, while Ashutosh continued the momentum with two crucial boundaries off Cummins.
Despite T Natarajan conceding only 10 runs in the penultimate over, the stage was set for Unadkat to defend the target, ultimately clinching victory for SRH in a pulsating encounter.
Arshdeep’s dominance in powerplay
At the onset, Punjab Kings gained momentum after opting to bowl first.
Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh delivered a stellar opening spell, dismissing Travis Head and Aiden Markram in quick succession.
Although Head survived an early scare, Punjab Kings’ failure to review an outside edge allowed him to unleash three consecutive boundaries off Rabada.
However, Arshdeep’s skillful bowling accounted for Head’s dismissal and induced a nick from Markram, concluding his first spell with figures of 2-8.
SRH’s fightback
Despite Arshdeep’s early breakthroughs, Sunrisers Hyderabad persisted with aggressive batting, led by Abhishek Sharma’s spirited innings.
However, Sharma’s aggressive approach led to his downfall, as he perished attempting to accelerate the scoring rate.
Subsequently, SRH faced further setbacks as Harshal Patel accounted for Rahul Tripathi’s wicket.
Nevertheless, amidst the collapse, Nitish Reddy and Abdul Samad revived SRH’s innings with a blistering counterattack.
Reddy’s explosive fifty, coupled with Samad’s contributions, propelled SRH to a competitive total.
Tense finish
In the closing stages, SRH lost crucial wickets but managed to accumulate crucial runs, thanks to contributions from Shabaz Ahmed and Jaydev Unadkat.
Arshdeep’s double-wicket over momentarily halted SRH’s progress, setting up a tense finale.
Despite the mounting pressure, Sunrisers successfully defended their target, as dew began to play a factor.
SRH’s dominance in powerplay
In pursuit of 183, Punjab Kings struggled in the powerplay, registering the lowest total of the season with just 27 runs in the first six overs.
Pat Cummins and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s early strikes dented Punjab’s chase, leaving them reeling at 20/3.
Despite the setbacks, Punjab’s middle-order batsmen displayed resilience, with contributions from Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, and Jitesh Sharma.
However, their efforts fell short, as Punjab Kings faced an uphill task in the final overs, ultimately succumbing to Sunrisers’ tight bowling and fielding display.
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