Well into the 13th over of their chase, Rajasthan Royals were 134/2. With both Riyan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal looking solid with their fifties, it seemed like RR were on their way for an easy win. Except that it wasn’t! In a thrilling last-ball nail-biter, Sunrisers Hyderabad stole a 1-run win from Rajasthan Royals in match 50 of Tata IPL 2024 to keep their playoff hopes alive. A brilliant spell by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and successful defence of 12 runs in the last over sealed the deal for SRH as they returned to winning ways after two consecutive losses. With this win, SRH are back in the top 4 of the IPL Points Table. They have upstaged defending champions Chennai Super Kings for this spot. 

Earlier in the evening, Sunrisers Hyderabad won the toss and skipper Pat Cummins opted to bat first. We didn’t see the explosive innings at Uppal but SRH still managed to register their fifth 200-plus score in IPL 17 with Nitish Kumar Reddy (76 not out) and Travis Head (58) scoring 50s and Heinrich Klaasen’s blitz of 42 runs in 19 balls to guide the home team to 201 for 3.

In reply, RR began their chase with early setbacks. Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up two wickets of Sanju Samson and Jos Buttler quickly. But youngsters Yashasvi Jaiswal (67) and Riyan Parag (77) stitched together a massive 134-run stand that gave RR total control of the game. However, the sudden loss of wickets turned the game around in favour of SRH. Pat Cummins bowled a phenomenal 19th over and picked up a wicket. But Powell’s six in the last ball of the 19th over brought the equation down to 13 runs needed in six balls. Cummins decided to give Bhuvi the last over. The West Indian kept a calm head and successfully brought down the target to 2 runs required in the last ball but SRH pacer denied him the glory and the Orange Army snatched the victory from the jaws of defeat at Uppal.

Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals scorecard

Rajasthan Royals:

  • Yashasvi Jaiswal b T Natarajan 67
  • Jos Buttler c Marco Jansen b Bhuvneshwar 0
  • Sanju Samson b Bhuvneshwar 0
  • Riyan Parag c Marco Jansen b Cummins 77
  • Shimron Hetmyer c Marco Jansen b T Natarajan 13
  • Rovman Powell lbw b Bhuvneshwar 27
  • Dhruv Jurel c Abhishek Sharma b Cummins 1
  • Ravichandran Ashwin not out 2
  • Extras: (NB-2,W-11) 13
  • Totals: (For 7 wickets in 20 Overs) 200 Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-1, 3-135, 4-159, 5-181, 6-182, 7-200.
  • Bowling: Bhuvneshwar Kumar 4-0-41-3, Marco Jansen 4-0-44-0, Pat Cummins 4-0-34-2, T Natarajan 4-0-35-2, Jaydev Unadkat 2-0-23-0, Nitish Kumar Reddy 1-0-12-0 Shahbaz Ahmed 1-0-11-0.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

  • Travis Head b Avesh Khan 58
  • Abhishek Sharma c Jurel b Avesh Khan 12
  • Anmolpreet Singh c Jaiswal b Sandeep Sharma 5
  • Nitish Kumar Reddy not out 76
  • Heinrich Klaasen not out 42
  • Extras: (W-8) 8
  • Total: (For 3 wkts, 20 overs) 201
  • Fall of wkts: 1-25, 2-35, 3-131.
  • Bowling: Trent Boult 4-0-33-0, Ravichandran Ashwin 4-0-36-0, Avesh Khan 4-0-39-2, Sandeep Sharma 4-0-31-1, Yuzvendra Chahal 4-0-62-0.

(With PTI inputs)