TATA IPL 2024 Match 18, SRH Vs CSK – Match Report

April 6, 2024

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) clinched victory by six wickets against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 encounter at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Unlike the previous match held in Hyderabad, which saw an IPL record, this game showcased a significant focus on bowling, leading to an engaging contest between the two teams across all departments.

In pursuit of 166 runs, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) started aggressively with Abhishek Sharma taking charge against the bowlers. His explosive innings seemed like a continuation of his performance against Mumbai Indians (MI) last week. Scoring 37 runs off just 12 balls, Sharma’s entertaining knock included three fours and four sixes, showcasing his flair for flicking and pulling with style. One standout shot was a flick over mid-wicket that cleared the boundary effortlessly. However, his innings came to an end in the third over when Deepak Chahar dismissed him, caught by Ravindra Jadeja at point.

On the opposite side, Travis Head got a lucky break early in his innings when he nicked one to the first slip, but Moeen Ali dropped the catch in the opening over. Head enjoyed a front-row view of Abhishek’s impressive performance that thrilled the crowd in Hyderabad. The final delivery of the first over was dispatched for a six. After Abhishek’s departure, Head maintained a positive approach while partnering with Aiden Markram, guiding SRH to a score of 78 for one by the end of the Powerplay.

Makram took charge of SRH’s run-chase, reaching his fifty off 35 deliveries. Travis Head’s innings ended at 31 runs when he attempted a sweep in the 10th over. Despite this, SRH managed to keep the required run rate under control, staying composed without feeling pressured. Shahbaz Ahmed came in at No. 4, partnering with Markram to maintain the momentum. However, Markram’s innings concluded at 50 runs as he attempted a reverse sweep against Moeen Ali.

As Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) approached the target, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) put up a tougher fight, especially with Moeen Ali dismissing Shahbaz via leg-before-wicket after he attempted a reverse sweep, which was confirmed after a review. Despite this setback, Heinrich Klaasen and Nitish Reddy remained composed, guiding SRH to victory with 11 balls to spare. Nitish’s six down the ground added a stylish finish to the match. SRH’s strategy of attacking the new ball paid off well, highlighting the challenges of batting as the ball aged during the innings.

During the day’s earlier proceedings, Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to field first, opting to put Chennai Super Kings (CSK) into bat. This decision by Cummins was supported by his bowlers, who collaborated effectively to limit the formidable CSK batting lineup to a score of 165. Although at a point it seemed CSK might surpass 180, disciplined bowling in the final 10 overs curbed their scoring, preventing the SRH batsmen from facing a daunting target.

Rachin Ravindra fell early in his innings while attempting to clear the infield. Ruturaj Gaikwad, scoring 26 runs, showcased some elegant shots before being caught in the deep by Shahbaz. Ajinkya Rahane’s composed innings of 35 runs provided stability, setting the stage for Shivam Dube to enter and unleash his strokeplay.

The left-handed batsman displayed his prowess in hitting sixes during his innings of 45 runs, clearing the boundaries four times in an entertaining display. His performance was crucial for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), suggesting the possibility of achieving a score exceeding 180 runs during his time at the crease.

In the 14th over, Cummins dismissed Dube with a catch at point. Shortly after, Jaydev Unadkat claimed the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane. By the end of the 15th over, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had reached a score of 127 runs for the loss of four wickets.

In the final four overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) bowlers maintained pressure and prevented Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batters from accelerating. Ravindra Jadeja’s unbeaten 31 runs off 23 balls played a crucial role in pushing CSK’s total beyond 160. SRH utilized slower deliveries effectively, especially in the slog overs, to contain CSK’s batting lineup. The pace bowlers, in particular, were successful, each claiming a wicket. Cummins and Unadkat both ended with figures of one wicket for 29 runs, while Bhuvneshwar contributed with one wicket for 28 runs.

Please click to see the report: