Travis Head showcased a blistering performance, smashing 89 runs off just 30 deliveries, while Abhishek Sharma contributed a scintillating 75 off 38 balls as Sunrisers Hyderabad dominated Lucknow Super Giants, securing a resounding ten-wicket victory by chasing down the target of 166 runs in a mere 9.4 overs at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Their partnership completely dismantled the LSG bowling attack, with SRH maintaining an impressive economy rate of 11.37 in the power play overs this IPL season, achieving the 100-run mark within six overs once again. Despite LSG's anticipated opening bowlers, Krishnappa Gowtham and Yash Thakur, SRH got off to a flying start, with Travis hammering Gowtham for 22 runs and Abhishek plundering four boundaries off Thakur.
The onslaught continued even after both batsmen reached their respective fifties, as they relentlessly attacked, guiding SRH to victory in under 10 overs. Head's fifty came in a remarkable 16 balls, displaying incredible hitting prowess with shots like a back-foot off-drive for a towering six over long-off off Ravi Bishnoi. Another highlight was a powerful swat straight down the wicket off Naveen-ul-Haq. By the fifth over, SRH had amassed 87 runs, quadruple the score of LSG at the same stage.
In a remarkable feat, SRH now holds the top two scores in the powerplay in this year's IPL, with Abhishek Sharma reaching his fifty in just 19 balls, including a straight six off Ayush Badoni as SRH reached 120 for no loss in 6.3 overs.
The chase was characterized by aggressive batting, with 14 sixes and 16 fours, signifying boundary-hitting prowess with almost every other ball finding its way to the fence.
Earlier, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the pick of the bowlers for SRH, conceding a miserly 12 runs in his four overs while scalping two crucial wickets, effectively stifling the LSG top order, which struggled to 66 runs in the first 11.2 overs. However, an unbeaten 99-run partnership between Ayush Badoni and Nicholas Pooran guided LSG to a respectable total of 165 for 4 in 20 overs.
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