Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

IPL PHOTOS: Abhishek guides SRH to easy win over CSK

Last updated on: April 09, 2022 20:09 IST

Abhishek Sharma smacks a six en route his half century against CSK in Navi Mumbai on Saturday

IMAGE: SunRisers Hyderabad's Abhishek Sharma smacks a six en route his half century against CSK in Navi Mumbai on Saturday. Photograph: BCCI

Indian Premier League's sentimental favourites Chennai Super Kings slumped to their fourth successive defeat with young Abhishek Sharma's 50-ball-75 guiding Sunrisers Hyderabad to their maiden eight-wicket win in this edition of the tournament.

 

The 21-year-old Sharma took the attack to the opposition with a blistering first IPL half-century which was studded with five fours and three sixes, to help Sunrisers easily chased down the target of 155 with 14 balls to spare.

CSK now need to win at least eight out of their remaining 10 games in order to reach the magic figure of 16 points which during past few years is the cut-off for play-off qualifications.

The left-hander from Punjab, who was bought for Rs 6.5 crore by the Sunrisers in the auction, led India to victory in the U-19 Asia Cup in 2016, before being replaced as captain by Prithvi Shaw months before the 2018 U-19 World Cup.

Abhishek Sharma and Kane Williamson shared an 89-run opening stand with Kane Williamson 

IMAGE: Abhishek Sharma and Kane Williamson shared an 89-run opening stand with Kane Williamson. Photograph: BCCI

It was Sunrisers’ first win of this IPL, having lost to Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants in their earlier matches.

CSK have already lost to Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings in earlier games.

On a sluggish pitch, Sharma took the pressure off his captain Kane Williamson (32 off 40 balls) who played second fiddle to the youngster who was in top form after failing to score big in the previous two matches.

Williamson was out in the 13th over off the bowling of left-arm seamer Mukesh Choudhary (1/30) after sharing 89-run opening stand with Sharma, who also fell in the 18th to Dwayne Bravo (1/29) with Sunrisers needing just 10 runs.

Rahul Tripathi saw SRH home 

IMAGE: Rahul Tripathi saw SRH home in style. Photograph: BCCI

Rahul Tripathi (39 not out off 15 balls) then ensured that there was no hiccups in the run chase. He glanced Bravo for a boundary to finish the chase in style.

Sharma was dropped when on 62 by Ravindra Jadeja off the bowling of Bravo but by then CSK have already lost the plot. The Sunrisers needed 47 runs from six overs with nine wickets in hand.

Sharma struck Mukesh Choudhary for a six in the next over and Tripathi then joined the party with a maximum and a four off Chris Jordan in the 17th over to make it a no contest.

All the six CSK bowlers went for runs with Jordan leaking the most -- 34 from his three overs – while also going wicketless.

Chennai Super Kings' Moeen Ali bats against SunRisers Hyderabad in Navi Mumbai on Saturday

IMAGE: Chennai Super Kings' Moeen Ali bats against SunRisers Hyderabad in Navi Mumbai on Saturday. Photograph: BCCI

Moeen Ali top-scored with a 35-ball 48 to guide Chennai Super Kings to 154 for seven after Sunrisers Hyderabad bowlers sought to make use of a tricky pitch in their IPL match in Navi Mumbai on Saturday.

Skipper Ravindra Jadeja (23 off 15 balls) played a little cameo towards the end to prop up CSK after they lost wickets in a heap.

Both teams entered the game looking to open their account in the 15th edition of the tournament.

Sent into bat, CSK were off to a shaky start with Bhuvneshwar Kumar inducing edges from Robin Uthappa's (15) bat in the first over, with one going for a boundary.

CSK's Ruturaj Gaikwad is bowled by SRH's Thangarasu Natarajan 

IMAGE: CSK's Ruturaj Gaikwad is bowled by SRH's Thangarasu Natarajan. Photograph: BCCI

Uthappa's unconvincing stay in the middle was brought to an end by Washington Sundar (2/21), in the off-spinner's very first ball, when the batter ended up skying a catch while going for a slog-sweep.

Having conceded 25 runs in the first three overs, SRH were back in the game and it got better for them with the introduction of T Natarajan (2/30) into the attack as the left-arm pacer bowled Ruturaj Gaikwad (16).

Making a dream start to his spell, Natarajan went through the gap between Gaikwad's bat and pad as he shaped to work it on the leg side. Gaikwad had begun well, fetching a boundary each through the cover and point-third man region.

Aiden Markram celebrates with teammates after dismissing Moeen Ali 

IMAGE: Aiden Markram celebrates with teammates after dismissing Moeen Ali. Photograph: BCCI

At 36 for two in 5.1 overs, CSK were in a spot of bother and they needed a partnership, and the duo of Moeen Ali (48) and Ambati Rayudu (27) answered the call with a third-wicket stand of 62 runs.

While Rayudu found the fence four times during his run-a-ball knock, Moeen struck two sixes and three fours before being dismissed by part-timer Aiden Markram.

Nearing 100 and with some more batting to come on a pitch where the ball seemed to stop, CSK were well-placed when Rayudu departed after playing a part in rebuilding the innings.

Washington Sundar of the Sunrisers Hyderabad celebrates the wicket of Ambati Rayudu 

IMAGE: Washington Sundar of the Sunrisers Hyderabad celebrates the wicket of Ambati Rayudu. Photograph: BCCI

However, Williamson's gamble to bring in Markram worked as CSK lost their fourth wicket at 108 in the 15th over.

In a soft dismissal, Natarajan accounted for Shivam Dube as the defending champions lost three wickets in quick succession.

Two overs later, even the great Mahendra Singh Dhoni (3) was walking back to the dugout, with CSK struggling at 122 for six with 15 balls left to add to their total.

 

© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.