IPL 2024: Abhishek Sharma's pyrotechnics position SRH as strong contenders for top 2 finish after crucial 4-wicket win over PBKS

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) rode on Abhishek Sharma's blistering knock to thrash Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their final league stage match of the IPL 2024 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on May 19. With this SRH have surged to second place in the standings with 17 points n 14 matches to boast their chances of top two finish. Meanwhile, PBKS' miserable campaign ended with a loss as they finished being second last in the points table with just five wins in 14 clashes.

Batting first, PBKS posted a big total of 214/5 after Prabhsimran Singh's 71 off 45 and Jitesh Sharma's 15-ball 32. However, the high-flying SRH chased the colossal total down with four wickets and five balls to spare, thanks to Abhishek Sharma's 28-ball 66 and Heinrich Klaasen's 26-ball 42.

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SRH seal thrilling chase against PBKS after Abhishek's carnage-filled show

Sunrisers Hyderabad's chase of 215 got off to a shaky start with the early dismissal of Travis Head for a golden duck by Arshdeep Singh. However, a crucial partnership between Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi steadied the innings. Sharma, in particular, impressed with a blistering 50 off just 21 balls. By the halfway mark, SRH were well-positioned at 129/2, needing 86 runs from the remaining 60 balls.

The dismissal of Sharma (66) provided a glimmer of hope for Punjab Kings, but Nitish Reddy (37) kept SRH in the hunt. Harshal Patel struck twice, removing Tripathi (33) and Reddy, but SRH still had a fighting chance at 176/4 after 14 overs.

The match remained tense as wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Shahbaz Ahmed (3) departed in the 17th over, leaving SRH needing 26 runs off 24 balls. However, they displayed remarkable composure in the final overs, securing the victory with 4 wickets remaining.  This win secured their spot in the IPL 2024 playoffs.

Punjab Kings post imposing total against Sunrisers Hyderabad

The Punjab Kings (PBKS) defied expectations and put up a strong batting performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their final IPL match of the season. Opting to bat first, PBKS showcased some impressive hitting, ultimately reaching a challenging total of 214/5.

Prabhsimran, Atharva set the tone for SRH 

The newly formed opening pair of Prabhsimran Singh and Atharva Taide set the tone for the innings with a blistering 97-run partnership. They capitalised on the powerplay overs, facing both Pat Cummins and Bhuvneshwar Kumar confidently and scoring freely. Prabhsimran, in particular, displayed aggressive batting, smashing boundaries and sixes with ease. Taide contributed significantly as well, reaching a well-made 46 before being dismissed.

Following Taide's departure, Prabhsimran continued his assault alongside Rilee Rossouw. Their 54-run partnership ensured the momentum remained strong in the middle overs. However, a few quick wickets threatened to derail the innings. Prabhsimran eventually fell for 71, caught behind the stumps by Heinrich Klaasen off Vijayakanth Viyaskanth's bowling.

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Jitesh Sharma's Late Surge

Despite losing wickets, the stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma provided a crucial late flourish. He remained unbeaten on 32 runs off just 15 balls, hitting two powerful sixes in the final over against Nitish Kumar Reddy. This late surge helped PBKS reach a much higher total than initially anticipated.

Fearless Batting Display Playing their last match of the season and without key players like Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone (on national duty), Punjab had nothing to lose and showcased their attacking potential. They successfully navigated the early threat posed by Pat Cummins and Bhuvneshwar Kumar and capitalized on scoring opportunities throughout the innings.

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The Sunrisers Hyderabad bowlers, despite a decent start from Cummins and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, struggled to contain the Punjab Kings batsmen. They were unable to break the early partnership efficiently and conceded boundaries at crucial moments. The late wickets provided some relief but ultimately proved insufficient in halting the scoring rate.

Now SRH will hope RR to lose their last league match against KKR so that they can clinch their top 2 finish. If this happens they will end up locking horns with table topper KKR in the first qualifier.

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