RR v SRH: Glenn Phillips, Abdul Samad shine in thriller as SunRisers chase down 215 to keep playoffs hopes alive

Rajasthan Royals were handed a heartbreaking defeat by a spirited SunRisers Hyderabad side.

Who snatched victory after looking down and out until the last 12 balls were bowled in a thrilling IPL 2023 match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday, May 7.

Glenn Phillips and Abdul Samad shone with a stunning blitz at the end as SunRIsers Hyderabad kept their playoff hopes alive, clinching their 4th win of the season and getting off the last spot in the IPL 2023 points table.

Rajasthan Royals lost their 5th match in the last 6 matches, but the former champions remained in the 4th spot with 10 points from 11 matches.

Two days after being comfortably outplayed by defending champions Gujarat Titans, Rajasthan Royals came out all guns firing from the word go against bottom-placed SunRisers Hyderabad. A stunning 95 from Jos Buttler and 66 not out from captain Sanju Samson powered them to the highest-ever IPL total in Jaipur – 214 before Yuzvendra Chahal spun a web around the SunRisers with a 4-wicket haul.

However, all the heroics from the three big men of the Rajasthan Royals side went in vain as Glenn Phillips and Abdul Samad came up with a stunning finishing act to help SunRIsers Hyderabad pull off a sensational heist.

SunRisers needed 41 runs in the last two overs and when Yuzvendra Chahal sent back a well-set Rahul Tripathi and captain Aiden Markram, it looked all but over for the team in Orange.

However, Glenn Phillips, who replaced Harry Brook for SRH, smashed 3 sixes and a boundary in the 19th over bowled by rookie Kuldip Yadav. SRH brought the equation down to 17 runs in the final over which was set to be bowled by Sandeep Sharma, who defended 19 runs in the final over against MS Dhoni in Chennai.

However, Sandeep was not able to keep his calm on Sunday. He bowled a no-ball in the final legal delivery of the match. The Rajasthan players started celebrating when Jos Buttler took the catch of Abdul Samad but it was called a no-ball for over-stepping.

Abdul Samad kept his composure and hit a six when 4 runs were needed off the last delivery.

The emotions changed with a minute in both the dressing rooms as SunRisers players, who had their faces buried in their hands, were jumping in delight after the final delivery was bowled.

SunRisers did not get big scores but Abhishek Sharma’s fifty at the top of the order and a fine middle-overs contribution from Rahul Tripathi helped them stay afloat.

Heinrich Klaasen did not waste time as he hit 12-ball 24 in the end overs and even young Anmolpreet Singh delivered with a fine contribution at the top after coming on as an Impcat Player.

JOS BUTTLER FINDS FORM
Earlier in the day, Rajasthan Royals posted the highest-ever total in Jaipur, riding on Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson’s fireworks. The disappointment in the Rajasthan camp was evident when they were bundled out for just 118 after Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad brilliance in their previous match on Friday in Jaipur.

However, the change in body language was evident as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler went after the SunRisers bowlers from the word go, backing up their captain’s call to win the toss and bat first in the evening game at the iconic venue.

Yashasvi took the onus upon himself to give the Royals a flying start. The young left-hander played fearless cricket at the top, taking the attack to the SunRisers new-ball bowlers in the powerplay. The opener hit 2 sixes and 5 boundaries in just 5 overs as the two openers put on 54 runs in just 30 balls.

However, he changed gears during his sensational 138-run stand with Sanju Samson. Buttler grew in confidence as he hit 4 sixes and 10 boundaries for his 59-ball 95.

Buttler and Samson hammered the SunRisers Hyderabad spinners in the middle overs as the confidence that the England star was missing seemingly came back during the blitzkrieg in the middle-overs.

Sanju Samson also converted his start into a fifty as the Rajasthan captain smashed 5 sixes and 4 boundaries for his 38-ball 66 not out. Samson was severe against Mayank Markande as SRH’s best bowler was taken to the cleaners. He leaked 51 runs in his 4-over quota.