Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) were involved in an absolute thriller which saw the former take home the two points by a solitary run
SRH vs RR Highlights: It took a special effort by Sunrisers Hyderabad to topple the table-toppers! On the very last ball of the 50th IPL 2024 match, a Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s wicket handed Rajasthan Royals their second defeat of the season.
Opting to bat first, Travis Head played an uncharacteristic knock as he faced 44 balls to score 58. However, the star with the bat for SRH was uncapped talent Nitish Reddy, who made an unbeaten 76 off 42. Heinrich Klaasen also came up with a fiery cameo of 42* that propelled SRH to 201/3.
In reply, RR lost both Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson early on. Then came a match-altering stand between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag. They added 134 runs for the third wicket that took RR closer to the target. However, SRH chipped in with crucial wickets at regular junctures that kept the Royals in check. Chasing 13 runs off the last over, RR fell just short, eventually finishing at 200 runs.
‘Out’ or ‘Not-out’? It didn’t matter in the end
An interesting turn of events unfolded in the 15th over of the SRH innings. Facing Avesh Khan’s delivery, Travis Head attempted a shot but lost his balance in the process. Alert to the situation, RR captain Sanju Samson dislodged the bails at the striker’s end in a flash. Head, seemingly off-balance, struggled to get his bat grounded behind the crease.
The third-umpire’s decision to rule Head not out left the RR dugout in disbelief, firmly convinced that the batsman was out. However, the drama didn’t last long as Head was clean bowled by Avesh Khan on the very next delivery.
2012 Bhuvi – Are you back?
A vintage show by none other than Bhuvneshwar Kumar must have been refreshing to watch by not only SRH fans but for Indian fans as well. After all, Bhuvi dancing the batsmen on his tunes has always been a sight to behold. The veteran seamer first induced an outside edge of dangerous Jos Buttler before bowling one of the most beautiful deliveries of IPL 2024. Bowling against an in-form Sanju Samson, Bhuvneshwar sent out a peach of an inswinging ball that bamboozled the RR skipper’s stumps altogether. This particular dismissal was reminiscent of Bhuvneshwar’s wicket of Mohammad Hafeez on debut!
What. A. Finish.
With only 4 fielders outside the 30-yard circle, SRH were asked to defend 13 runs against a dangerous Rovman Powell. The West Indian even guided one behind square for a four that put RR in the forefront. The match was going right down the wire, as the ‘Super Over’ also looked most apparent.
However, Powell missed a hit-me delivery by Bhuvi, and was adjudged LBW when RR needed just two runs to clinch the tie on the last ball of the match. It was certainly a superb finish to a wonderful game, where SRH certainly held their nerves better.
Editors pick
