It's tough to find an adjective for the big-hitting show put up by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) openers, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, in the IPL on Wednesday, when they knocked off a target of 166 in just 9.4 overs, without getting separated, for a 10-wicket win over a hapless Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
Chasing LSG's below-par 165 for 4, Hyderabad openers launched an almost unreal attack on the Lucknow bowlers. In total, the duo hit 14 sixes and 16 fours, as 148 of the 167 runs in SRH's unbroken opening partnership came off boundaries alone.
Head ended up smashing 89* off just 30 balls, while Abhishek hammered an equally blistering 75* off only 28 balls.
The knock pushed Head up to number three on the Orange Cap standings for most runs in the season, only nine runs behind table-topper Virat Kohli (542 runs). Head now has 533 runs in 11 innings at a staggering strike rate of 201.89.
Travis turning it on, again 🙌#SRHvLSG #TATAIPL #IPLonJioCinema #IPLinTelugu pic.twitter.com/rNMgQ2V1Y9
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) May 8, 2024
Abhishek's tally of runs in 12 innings stands at an impressive 401.
In a short video after the match, the duo promised SRH fans that the entertainment and attacking intent will continue in the matches to come.
"More to come," said Head in the video.
LONG. SLEEVE. ENERGY! 🔥🤝#PlayWithFire #SRHvLSG pic.twitter.com/Am29yxZBiX
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) May 8, 2024
LSG looked clueless against the all-out attack launched by SRH openers. Before that, LSG skipper KL Rahul had a forgettable outing as a batsman, scoring 29 off 33 balls. It was only because of Nicholas Pooran's 48* off 26 balls and Ayush Badoni's 55* off 30 that LSG could put up a competitive total on the board.
𝟏𝟒𝟔 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 🔥🔥
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) May 8, 2024
Sunrisers Hyderabad have now hit the most sixes in a #TATAIPL season 🤯#SRHvLSG #IPLonJioCinema pic.twitter.com/jXwOtk8xj1
The defeat pushed LSG down to number six on the points table after their sixth defeat in 12 matches, thereby making the team's task of qualifying for the playoffs tougher. SRH moved up to number three with their seventh win in 12 matches.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad will remain at home till the end of the League Stage round, they'll face the bottom-placed Gujarat Titans, whereas the Lucknow Supergiants have a 5-day breather to recover, they'll head to the capital city to play against the Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.