PBKS vs SRH, IPL 2024: SunRisers survive Shashank-Ashutosh scare in Mullanpur thriller

SunRisers won their first match away from home in IPL 2024 and they were made to work hard for 2 points by Punjab in a high-quality game at the newly-built stadium in Mullanpur on Tuesday.

SRH managed to win the last-over thriller by just 2 runs after they survived a scare from Punjab’s new-found lower-order batting heroes Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma.

All hopes were lost when Punjab needed 51 runs in the last 3 overs, but Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma, PBKS’s heros from their win over Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, combined and stitched a 66-run partnership in just 27 balls. 29 runs were needed in the final over and Pat Cummins entrusted Jaydev Unadkat with the responsibility of closing it out. 27 runs were scored as Ashutosh Sharma and Shashank Singh gave it their all in a fine show of big-hitting. However, PBKS fell short of the target by 3 runs to suffer their 3rd match of the IPL 2024 season.

SunRisers, thanks to a sensational batting show from 20-year-old Nitish Kumar Reddy and a all-round bowling show, jumped to the 5th spot with 6 points from 5 matches in the IPL 2024 points table.

Punjab were reeling at 114 for 6 after T20 World Cup hopeful Jitesh Sharma fell in the 16th over. It was exactly after 15.3 overs that Shashank and Ashutosh joined hands in their big win over Gujarat when PBKS chased down 200. However, 51 in 3 overs proved a bit too much for Shashank and Ashutosh, who have stolen the limelight once again.

Nonetheless, it was a disappointing batting show from the big guns of Punjab, including Shikhar Dhawan (14) and Jonny Bairstow, who failed to trouble the scorers after his woodwork was disturbed by Pat Cummisn as early as the 2nd over.

Punjab were reeling at 27 for 3 at the end of the powerplay. HOwever, Sam Curarn (29 off 22) and Sikandar Raza (28) got the chase back on track. Curran fell in the 10th over after which Shashank Singh joined hands with Raza to steady the ship. The Zimbabwe all-rounder, however, threw his wicket away while trying to go big rigth after returning from a strategic break in the 14th over of the chase.

NITISH KUMAR REDDY: NEW SRH HERO

Earlier in the day, SunRisers rode on 20-year-old Nitish Kumar Reddy’s special to to post a challenging total of 182 for 9 in 20 overs. It was one of their worst batting days as their big names, including Aiden Markram, Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen failed to fire. However, young Nitsh and a cameo from Abdul Samad helped them to post a par total.

Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma were looking to cut loose from the word go, having headed to Mullanpur high on confidence, days after decimating the Super Kings bowling line-up at home. The two batters raced off to a good start with Head hitting 4 boundaries for his 15-ball 21. However, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh got the big wicket, stopping a Head storm in Mullanpur.

In the very same over, Arshdeep Singh got the wicket of Aiden Markram as SRH were reeling at 27 for 2 in the 4th over.

Abhishek Sharma tried to get going with a six and 2 boundaries, but his innings was cut-short by Sam Curran, who joined the party in the powerplay.

Kagiso Rabada was sensational with the ball as PBKS gave the South African pacer the new ball for the first time in the season. Better sense from the PBKS management in terms of using their fast-bowling resources in the powerplay.

Nitish Kumar Reddy, playing only his 9th T20 and 4th match of his IPL career, showcased maturity beyond his years and tore into the Punjab bowlers, showing incredible big-hitting ability against both spin and pace.

Nitish Kumar Reddy started slow, assessing the conditions at the newly-built stadium. He was 11 off 14 and then 14 off 17 before he launched into left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar in the 11th over. Nitish hit a four and six off successive deliveries. In the very next over, Nitish hit the awe-inspiring shot against Rabada. The carnage did not stop there as he tore into Sam Curran. It was in the 15th over that Nitish flaunted his range as he hit 2 sixes and as many boundaries against Brar, taking the left-arm spinner to 21 runs in the over.

Nitish got to his maiden T20 fifty in style with a huge six. The 20-year-old all-rounder, who has been in good form for Andhra in domestic cricket, made 64 off 37 balls before getting out in the 17th over, becoming Arshdeep Singh’s 4th victim on Tuesday.