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Overview
Sunrisers Hyderabad edged out Rajasthan Royals in a nail-biting finish, showcasing their prowess in death bowling to climb into the top four. The high-octane match saw the Royals needing 13 runs in the final over, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s skillful bowling denied Rovman Powell the opportunity to score off the final delivery, granting Sunrisers a narrow victory by 1 run.
Where did Sunrisers gain the edge?
After a subdued start, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) rallied during the middle overs. Despite Rajasthan Royals (RR) keeping the lead for most of the game, they stumbled at the crucial final stage.
| Phase | SRH | RR |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 70/0 | 43/4 |
| Run-rate | 148.6 | – |
| 4s/6s | 4/6 | 3/2 |
Sunrisers Hyderabad Innings Breakdown:
PowerPlay: SRH had their slowest start of the season, managing only 37/2. Head’s escape from an early dismissal off Trent Boult was followed by controlled bowling from RR that contained SRH. Abhishek Sharma and Anmolpreet Singh’s dismissals further contributed to the sluggish tempo.
Middle Overs: SRH turned the tide with Head and Nitish Rana changing gears, counterattacking RR’s spinners. Head dominated Chahal with aggressive batting before being dismissed for a well-made 58 off 44 balls. Meanwhile, Nitish’s onslaught boosted the run rate significantly.
Death Overs: Nitish continued his assault, reaching an impressive 50 off just 30 balls. Klaasen also shone, particularly against Chahal, contributing to a ‘sixy’ finish with a powerful 42 off 19 balls. Both batsmen’s efforts propelled SRH over the 200-run mark, with Nitish unbeaten on 76 from 42 deliveries.
Rajasthan Royals Innings Breakdown:
PowerPlay: Despite early setbacks, RR rebounded quickly. Parag and Jaiswal’s aggressive batting, featuring 9 boundaries, kept the team on pace with the required run rate. However, Jansen’s comeback proved tough, and Cummins also endured a costly over.
Middle Overs: The duo of Parag and Jaiswal maintained their scoring spree, handling Jansen and Cummins with ease. Despite Natarajan’s accurate yorkers, RR reached the halfway stage in a strong position. Jaiswal and Parag scored brisk fifties, positioning RR for what seemed a manageable chase.
Death Overs: A shift in SRH’s favor occurred as Cummins curtailed Parag’s efforts. Jansen’s inconsistency resulted in a costly over, but Natarajan managed to dismiss Hetmyer. Cummins delivered an impeccable penultimate over, leading to Bhuvneshwar’s decisive final over, denying Powell and RR victory.
Score Summary:
Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 201/3 in their 20 overs, with Nitish Rana top-scoring with an unbeaten 76 and contributions from Travis Head who made 58. Avesh Khan picked up 2 wickets for 39 runs. Rajasthan Royals fell just short with 200/7, despite Riyan Parag’s 77 and Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 67. Bhuvneshwar Kumar stood out for SRH with figures of 3-41.
Upcoming Fixtures:
The Rajasthan Royals will visit Delhi to face the Delhi Capitals on May 7th. SRH will have a three-day respite before taking on Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium.
