IPL 2024, SRH vs RR, Key Takeaways: Bhuvneshwar Kumar's last ball dismissal overpower 134-run stand between Riyan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Top takeaway for SRH and RR from the match.
Brief Scores:Â SRH 201/3 (Nitish Kumar Reddy 76*, Travis Head 58, Sandeep Sharma 1/31) beat RR 200/7 (Riyan Parag 77, Yashasvi Jaiswal 43, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3/41) by 1 run.Â
Player of the Match:Â Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3-41 from 4 overs)
Dynamic Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) hosted the table-toppers Rajasthan Royals (RR) in match 50 of IPL 2024 at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad.
Opting to bat, SRH was off to a sedate beginning, but whirlwind knocks from Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen propelled the hosts to yet another 200-plus total in the season.
The chase proved to be thrilling, as Bhuvneshwar Kumar held his nerve to give Rajasthan their second loss by just one run while defending 13.
Key Takeaways from SRH vs RR, Match 50, Winning Team (SRH)
Nitish Reddy reflects on Management’s confidence
SRH's batting started uncharacteristically slowly, scoring just 37 runs in powerplays and losing the wickets of Abhishek Sharma and Anmolpreet Singh.
The ever-impressive Travis Head, too, found it hard to get until he got a piece of Yuzvendra Chahal in the 10th over.
But Nitish Kumar Reddy set the tone for the rest of the innings with some fearless stroke play. The youngster attacked every bowler but was particularly severe on Chahal, who smashed 20 runs in a single over. This injected fuel back into SRH innings, and Nitish reached his second half-century of IPL in just 30 deliveries. If his 64 versus Punjab Kings showed the world his talent, this career-best 76* off 42 further solidifies the growing stature of the young all-rounder in the SRH team.
SRH back to winning ways courtesy of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Pat Cummins
Coming from twin losses while chasing, SRH chose their strong suit in this game to bat first.
Their batters didn’t disappoint, posting a competitive 201, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar started their defense on a strong note by claiming two wickets in the first over.
However, RR threatened to take away the game and were placed comfortably at 157/3 after 15 overs. Needing just 45 runs off the last five, it was the Royals’ game to lose, and the same thing happened.
This was thanks to a superb second spell by skipper Pat Cummins, who took two wickets in two overs, conceding just 10 runs. Veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar proved his mettle by defending 13 in the final.
Key Takeaways from SRH vs RR, Match 50, Losing Team (RR)
Youngsters (Jaiswal – Parag) played a mature knock to bail RR out
Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled a dream first over by dismissing Jos Buttler and skipper Sanju Samson for ducks each. Just when we thought the Royals batting line-up would be up for a test, the young batting duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag ensured they were always ahead of the asking rate.
Both talented batters took calculated risks in their pursuit of 202 and reached their respective half-centuries. The duo’s superlative partnership of 134 from 78 balls for the third wicket not only bailed out RR from what could have been a certain collapse but also brought them within touching distance of yet another win.
Statistical highlights from SRH vs RR, Match 50
This was the first time Travis Head faced Trent Boult in IPL cricket. The left-arm pacer conceded 36 runs off the 17 balls he bowled to Head in T20 Internationals. In this game, the SRH opener faced 13 balls off Boult, scoring 16 runs.
SRHs made only 37/2 powerplay phase, their lowest score in IPL 2024.
This is Yuzvendra Chahal’s 300th game in T20 cricket, and he has taken 349 wickets in the process.
Nitish Kumar Reddy's 76 in this game was his highest score in T20 cricket, eclipsing his previous best of 64, which he hit earlier in the tournament.
Riyan Parag crossed the 1000-run mark in IPL cricket. He took 53 innings to achieve the feat.
Points Table Scenario and what’s next to come
SRH's return to winning ways tilts them back into fourth position with 12 points from 10 games, while the Royals sit pretty at the top despite losing with 16 points. They next travel to Delhi on May 7, and SRH meets MI at Wankhede on May 6.
Up next in IPL, MI plays host to the Kolkata Knight Riders.