NEW DELHI: Following some misplay during their batting innings, the Chennai Super Kings were hit by
Abhishek Sharma
, who hit 37 off 12 balls to set Sunrisers Hyderabad on a six-wicket victory path against the reigning champions in an IPL match held in Hyderabad on Friday.
Only 37 runs were scored in the final five overs as the SRH bowlers, who were highly disciplined, held CSK to 165 for 5 in 20 overs.
If CSK's 37 off the last five was a lackluster effort, young southpaw Abhishek, who is enjoying himself immensely in the competition, also hit 37 off just 12 deliveries, including four sixes, to set the stage.
After that,
Aiden Markram
led a successful run chase for SRH, scoring 50 runs off of 36 balls in just 18.1 overs.
His 60-run stand with opener Travis Head (31 off 24 balls) for the second wicket in seven overs after Abhishek pummeled a listless Mukesh Chaudhary, playing his first game, for 27 runs. The match as a contest ended then and there as CSK lost two away matches on trot while SRH have now won both their home games.
CSK had a chance first up but
Moeen Ali
dropped Head off the second delivery bowled by Deepak Chahar.
Following that, there was mayhem as 23-year-old Abhishek struck two fours and three sixes against Mukesh, who was compelled to play because Mustafizur Rahaman had taken a one-match vacation to return home and file for a US visa.
In his lone over of play in his first competitive match in sixteen months, Mukesh was all over the place. When Mustafizur returns, he will once more warm the benches.
The 'IPL expert' Chahar was hit for a boundary and a six by Abhishek in the third over, and there was no let-up in his aggression, as a diving Jadeja claimed his lofted shot.
After six overs, Head and Markram steadied the score without taking many chances, reaching 78 for 1. With a huge six off
Ravindra Jadeja
's bowling in the ninth over, Markram helped the SRH reach their 100 runs.
Head, the Impact Sub for T Natarajan, was out in the 10th over off Maheesh Theekshana but not before he added 60 runs with Markram. Pressure had eased out by then as SRH needed just 59 runs from the final 10 overs with eight wickets in hand.
Markram made his first fifty of the season in the 14th over as CSK bowlers toiled to get the wickets. But the South African batter who captained SRH last season got out in the same over bowled by compatriot Moeen Ali (2/23) who won an LBW review taken by SRH.
The Hyderabad-based side did not need to press panic button as they needed just 34 runs from the last five overs. Moeen got his second wicket in the form of Shahbaz Ahmed (18) but Heinrich Klaasen (10 not out) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (14 not out) took SRH home.
Earlier, CSK batters failed to capitalise on their starts as they were restricted to a below-par 165 for 5.
After CSK was asked to bat on a pitch that didn't look like the traditional belter, in-form Shivam Dube top-scored with a 24-ball 45, while veteran
Ajinkya Rahane
delivered a calm 35 off 30 balls. The single best moment of the CSK innings came from the pair's 65-run partnership for the third wicket from just 6.3 overs.
The final five overs saw CSK score just 37 runs, which might prove to be the game's turning point.
It is imperative to acknowledge CSK's all-season player, Ravindra Jadeja, whose 31 undefeated off 23 balls provided the extra boost the reigning champions needed in the closing stages.
(With PTI inputs)
English (US) ·