SRH vs RR: SunRisers hold nerve to defend 201 in thriller, heartbreak for Rajasthan

Rajasthan were left heartbroken in Hyderabad as SunRisers snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in a last-ball thriller in IPL 2024.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar emerged as the hero for the home side as he took 2 wickets wih the new ball and defended 13 runs in the last over on Thursday at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Rovman Powell was out LBW in the final delivery of the match when the Royals needed 2 runs.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who had jolted Rajasthan’s chase with the wickets of Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson in the first over, returned to hold his nerve in a thrilling final over. SunRisers successfully defended 201 by the barest of margins to snap a 2-match losing streak. Rajasthan, on the other hand, lost for the first time in 5 matches. Despite the defeat, RR stayed on top of the points table with 16 points from 8 matches.

SunRisers moved to the 4th spot in the points table, taking their tally to 12 points in 10 matches and pushed the Super Kings to the 5th spot.

Captain Pat Cummins also used all his experience as he overcame a poor start with the ball to give only 7 runs in the 19th over. He bowled 3 dot balls to Rovman Powell, the big-hitter from the Caribbean. Cummins also got the big wicket of Rohan Parag for 77 in the 16th over in which he conceded just 3 runs

SRH needed only 27 runs in the last 3 overs. However, T Natarajan, who claimed the Purple Cap, gave away just 7 in the 18th over and picked the big wicket of Shimron Hermyer before Cummins and Bhuvneshwar closed it out.

It must have been heartbreaking for Rohan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal as the duo led RR’s recovery with a 134-run stand in just 80 balls and put the visitors in a position of strength.

NITISH AND HEAD SHINE FOR SUNRISERS AFTER SLOW START
Earlier in the day, Travis Head made sure he overcome a dip in form, returning to his big-hitting best. Head and Abhishek Sharma began on a cautious note after the Australian opener, who has been named in the T20 World Cup squad, was dropped by Riyan Parag off the very first delivery of the match. Head nearly fell into the trap set by Trent Boult as he poked at an outswinger. However, he was dropped by Parag at point.

Abhishek Sharma went after R Ashwin, who was given the responsibility of the new ball for the first time in the IPL since 2021. The left-hander hit a six in the 2nd over of the contest, but the two SRH openers did not throw caution to the wind, showing the world that they can be patient at the top. It was also because of their failures in SRH’s failed chases in their last two matches.

However, Abhishek Sharma fell in the first delivery of the 5th over bowled by Avesh Khan, who is among the 4 travelling reserves in the Indian T20 World Cup squad. Avesh bowled a bouncer that did the trick as Abhishek paid the price for playing a half-hearted pull shot.

SRH’s decision to send Anmolpreet at No. 3 did not work for the second successive match. After he was dismissed for a first-ball duck after coming on as Impact Player against Chennai on Sunday, he was dismissed for 5 by Sandeep Sharma, who struck with the first delivery of his spell.

At the end of the powerplay, SunRisers managed just 37 for 2 — their lowest total at the end of the first 6 overs in IPL 2024.

However, Travis Head used all his experience to steer the SunRisers innings forward, with support from up and coming Nitish Kumar Reddy, who brought up his second half-century of the season.

The two took their time to see off the first couple of overs after the powerplay. It was in the 9th over that Travis Head pressed the accelerator, tearing into Yuzvndra Chahal, hitting the Indian leg-spinner for 2 sixes and a boundary.

Nitish Kumar Reddy then joined in and smashed off-spinner R Ashwin for a six as SRH went to 75 for 2 at the end of 10 overs.

Nitish Reddy then flaunted his wide range of shots, taking the attack to spin and pace, smashing Avesh Khan into the stands in the 11th over. Travis Head, meanwhile, brought up his 4th fifty of the season, his slowest, as he got there in only 37 balls.

NITISH REDDY GOES ON SIX-HITTING SPREE
The 13th over changed the momentum in favour of SunRisers as Nitish Kumar Reddy tore into Yuzvendra Chahal, hitting the seasoned leg-spinner for 2 sixes and 2 boundaries for 21 runs.

In the 15th over of the contest, after a contentious stumping decision that went against Sanju Samson and in favour of Travis Head, the Australian batter was dismissed for 58 (44 balls) by Avesh Khan.

Just when the Royals looked to claw back into the contest, Heinrich Klaasen walked and in and took the SRH’s innings into sixth gear.

Nitish Reddy flaunted his fearlessness as he continued to attack R Ashwin while Klaasen tore into the RR attack in the end overs, smashing 42 off just 19 balls. While Nitish remained unbeaten on 76 off 42 balls with 8 sixes and 3 boundaries, Head hit 3 sixes and as many boundaries to help SRH post 201.

It was a tough night for Yuzvendra Chahal as the leg-spinner, who is in India’s T20 World Cup squad, gave away 62 — his most expensive spell in the IPL. Nonetheless, Rajasthan were nearly able to make up with the bat for their ordinary outing with the ball.