Nitish Kumar Reddy hit 64 off 37 balls as Sunrisers Hyderabad put up a challenging 182/9 on the board and then took early wickets to put Punjab Kings under pressure. The home team fought back in this IPL 2024 match through a late partnership between Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma. Their efforts, however, were not enough.
Arshdeep gets back his mojo
Arshdeep Singh has always been one of Punjab Kings’ most dependable bowlers. Against Sunrisers Hyderabad, he proved why he’s so valuable. Despite a rocky start to the IPL season, Arshdeep stepped up when his team needed him. He not only turned the tide once, but twice, in favour of his team. Facing pressure, Arshdeep delivered an impactful performance that made all the difference. After getting lucky on the first ball, a brilliant one from Kagiso Rabada, Travis Head went back to his natural game of playing attacking shots. Arshdeep’s clever strategy led to Head’s dismissal, along with Aiden Markram’s golden duck, when brought into the attack. Thanks to Arshdeep, Punjab Kings dominated the game, especially in the first six overs.
Harshal, Curran choke SRH
Punjab Kings would be thrilled to witness the significant impact made by their premier death bowler, Harshal Patel. Following the early setbacks for Sunrisers Hyderabad, the Punjab Kings needed to maintain pressure, and Patel played a key role in achieving that. He managed to dismiss Rahul Tripathi and, notably, Heinrich Klaasen, caught in the deep. Sam Curran played his part by removing the in-form Abhishek Sharma, who was looking dangerous. While Curran contributed, the Kings would be hoping for him to be more economical in the future.
Nitish the difference-maker for SRH
Young Nitish Kumar Reddy seized the opportunity to shine bright, showcasing a remarkable display with his fighting innings of 64 runs from just 37 deliveries. Despite SRH losing wickets rapidly, Reddy stepped up to the challenge, surprising many with his performance, considering his less impressive T20 record. Although he took some time to settle in, Reddy found his rhythm as the innings progressed. He targeted Harpreet Brar, scoring 22 runs in one over, which significantly shifted the momentum in SRH’s favor. While Reddy would have hoped to stay till the final over, his impactful contribution had already rejuvenated SRH’s chances in the contest.
SRH take control in first six overs
SRH carried forward their momentum into their bowling performance, with captain Pat Cummins leading the charge. Cummins set the tone by securing the early wicket of Jonny Bairstow, and putting Punjab Kings on the defensive right from the start. Adding to Kings’ woes, the experience of Bhuvneshwar Kumar proved invaluable as he dismissed Prabhsimran Singh and got Shikhar Dhawan stumped. Punjab Kings found themselves trailing significantly in the game after losing three wickets within the first six overs.
Shashank-Ashutosh rally not enough
Ashutosh and Shashank, who had led the Kings to victory against Gujarat Titans, raised similar hopes. But despite their best efforts, luck wasn’t on their side this time. While they played some beautifully timed shots and appeared composed at the crease, chasing down 50 in the last three overs was always going to be tough. The pressure mounted until the very last moments for the Sunrisers, showcasing the quality that these two uncapped batsmen possessed. Jaydev Unadkat, especially, found himself under extreme pressure in the last over. However, he managed to keep cool and hold his nerve, ultimately helping his team cross the finish line by just two runs.
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