IPL 2024: Ruthless Head, Abhishek punish timid LSG as SRH boost playoffs hopes

KL Rahul and Lucknow paid the price for being timid with the bat as their IPL 2024 play-offs went up in smoke after one of their most crushing defeats.

Lack of bravery hurt them against SunRisers, who were at their ruthless best with the bat and disciplined best with the ball at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday, May 8.

Travis Head hit a 16-ball fifty and Abhishek Sharma hit a 19-ball fifty as SunRisers made a mockery of their 166-run chase. The former champions went past the finish line in just 9.4 overs, handing Lucknow one of the biggest defeats in IPL history.

167 in 9.4 overs is also the highest-ever total scored in the first 10 overs of an IPL match as SunRisers shattered records at will. SunRisers winning with 62 balls is also a new IPL record for the most deliveries remaining while chasing a 100-plus total.

It was a perfect birthday gift for captain Pat Cummins as the Hyderabad-based team stormed back into the top 3 in the IPL 2024 points table. SunRisers’ Net Run Rate also got a major boost as they tore into the Lucknow bowlers, who were clueless against one of the most incredible power-hitting shows from Head and Abhishek.

Travis Head remained unbeaten on 89 off 30 balls while Abhishek Sharma made 75 off 28 balls as SunRisers hammered the Super Giants by 10 wickets. KL Rahul, who played a criminally slow knock of 29 from 33 balls, looked clueless as Head and Abhishek hit 13 sixes and 16 boundaries. Even the SunRisers stars in the dugout watched the incredible assault with awe as the two openers flaunted their big-hitting ability.

107 vs 27 IN POWERPLAYS: SRH WIN BATTLE
SunRisers scored 107 for 0 in their powerplay while Lucknow managed 27 for 2 in their powerplay and the contrast in approach proved to be the difference between the two teams.

Only 4 times have 100-plus scores been posted in the powerplay and SunRisers have accounted for two of them. Previously, SunRisers broke the all-time IPL record for the most runs in the powerplay — 125 against Delhi at the Arun Jaitley Stadium last month. Krishnappa Gowtham, who conceded 29 runs from 2 overs, was LSG’s most economical bowler. Ayush Badoni, Yash Thakur, Naveen-ul-Haq and Ravi Bishnoi all conceded more than 17 runs per over as LSG bowlers had a forgettable day in Hyderabad.

BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR STANDS OUT

Earlier in the day, LSG won the toss and opted to bat, but did not do any justice to their call. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was top-class with the new ball as he got the big wickets of Quinton de Kock and in-form Marcus Stoinis as LSG were restricted to 27 for 2 at the end of their powerplay.

KL Rahul struggled for momentum, managing just 29 off 33 balls before getting out in the 10th over to birthday boy Pat Cummins. Rahul’s dismissal did more good than harm for LSG as the likes of Ayush Badoni and Nicholas Pooran gave the much-needed impetus to their innings.

Pat Cummins was pumped up on his birthday as he also affected the run-out of Krunal Pandya, who was looking to be proactive in the middle.

Ayush Badoni hit a crucial 55 off 30 while Nicholas Pooran made a quick-fire 48, but their 99-run stand did not prove anywhere close to being enough for Lucknow.

With SunRisers moving to the 3rd spot, Mumbai became the first team to be officially knocked out of the playoffs race.