SRH vs CSK Review: Sharma, Markram guide Hyderabad to victory against Chennai
Chennai Super Kings clashed with Sunrisers Hyderabad in Match 18 of the Indian Premier League 2024 at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on April 5. SRH won the toss and opted to bowl first. Rachin Ravindra (12 off 9) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (26 off 21) showed hesitancy initially but started scoring in boundaries later on. Ajinkya Rahane (35 off 30) and Shivam Dube (45 off 24) played an ice-fire innings to bail CSK out of trouble. Ravindra Jadeja (31 off 23) could not produce what Dube did and Dary Mitchell (13 off 11) departed in the last over. CSK managed a below-par score of 165 for 5 after 20 overs.
When Travis Head (31 off 24) and Abhishek Sharma (37 off 12) walked out to bat, they put SRH in a commanding position. They put together 46 runs in just 2.4 overs. Aiden Markram (50 off 36) joined Head in the middle and the duo shared 60 runs between them for the second wicket. Shahbaz Ahmed ( 18 off 19) played a run-a-ball innings. With six needed off 12 balls, Heinrich Klaasen (10 off 11) and Nitish Reddy (14 off 8) finished the formalities as SRH thumped CSK by six wickets.
Top Performers of the Match
Abhishek Sharma (37 off 12)
MS Dhoni once said that powerplay is the deciding factor of a T20 game. That is what Abhishek Sharma did in this game during powerplay. He stole 27 runs off Mukesh Sharma’s over and put SRH on a pedestal right from the start. In his 12-ball stay, he butchered three boundaries and four sixes and SRH never looked out of contention since then. He batted at a strike rate of a whopping 308.33.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1 for 28)
The pitch was termed a batter paradise, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled with precise line and length. He picked Rachin’s wicket who was looking in fine touch. Every time Pat Cummins handed him the ball, he controlled the run flow and put CSK under pressure. Bowling the 19th over of the innings, he gave away just six with the likes of Daryl Mitchell and Ravindra Jadeja at the crease.
What’s next for both teams?
Chennai Super Kings will take on Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 22 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on April 8. Sunrisers Hyderabad will take on Punjab Kings in Match 23 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mohali on April 9.
