Hyderabad unleash batting fireworks, post mammoth 255/4 against RCB

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s batting trio of Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen powered the team to 255/4 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Hyderabad. Klaasen and Kishan struck fluent half-centuries, while Nitish Kumar Reddy added late fireworks in the IPL league match

Hyderabad: The brilliance of the in-form batting trio of Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen helped Sunrisers Hyderabad set a daunting target of 256 for defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL league match at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Friday night.

That two of the best fast bowlers of the season, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, went wicketless while conceding 106 runs between them in eight overs was a clear reflection of SRH’s batting dominance. This came despite Bhuvneshwar and Rasikh Dar giving away just 17 runs in the last two overs.

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With an eye on net run rate, Pat Cummins opted to bat first and saw openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head put on 45 runs in 24 balls before Head (26, 16b, 5×4), who hit pacer Rasikh Dar for three fours in his first over, was yorked to the delight of the RCB camp.

At the other end, Abhishek Sharma was in his own zone, hitting leading wicket-taker Bhuvneshwar Kumar over long-off and then lofting leg-spinner Suyash Sharma for two huge sixes. SRH scored 63/1 in the powerplay.

Abhishek (56, 22b, 4×4, 5×6) rode his luck after being dropped on 25 and 39 before falling to Suyash Sharma, who induced a lofted stroke that was caught at long-off, making it 97/2 in 8.2 overs.

Soon, Heinrich Klaasen, SRH’s most dangerous and consistent batter, picked Josh Hazlewood for special treatment in the 13th over, hitting him for three sixes and a four as 27 runs came off the over. In the next over, Klaasen struck a spectacular six over extra cover off Suyash and later lofted Bhuvneshwar over covers for another huge six.

At the other end, Ishan Kishan continued his impressive run this IPL, scoring yet another stroke-filled half-century. He celebrated by swinging Rasikh Dar for a six and hitting two fours in the next over as SRH raced to 200/2 in 15.2 overs.

Klaasen (51, 24b, 2×4, 5×6) completed his sixth half-century of the season before left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya dismissed him in the 17th over. He added 113 runs in 48 balls for the third wicket with Ishan Kishan.

There was no respite for RCB as Nitish Kumar Reddy hit Krunal for two sixes in the same over and later scooped Hazlewood for another six.

Ishan (79, 46b, 8×4, 3×6) and Nitish (29 n.o., 12b, 1×4, 3×6) struck lusty blows to eventually see the home team post 255/4 in 20 overs.