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| @Abishek Sharma play shot vs LSG IPL 2025 |
In the May 19 match at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) beat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by six wickets, removing Rishabh Pant’s side from the competition for the IPL 2025 playoffs. Apart from boosting SRH’s place in the tournament, this win also highlighted their growing energy as the league approached its crucial point.
Match Overview :
LSG made a good start, but it wasn’t sustained :
The team started in great form, with Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram partnering for 115 runs in the first six overs of the innings. Marsh quickly made 65 runs and in the first over, he hit a four and a six, thanks to Cummins’ short deliveries. Markram’s 61 helped the South Africans build a good foundation. With the duo hitting boundaries, LSG scored 120 runs in the first 10 overs, making people hope for a huge score.
The bowlers of SRH, mainly Eshan Malinga (2-28) and Harshal Patel, managed to pull things back in both the middle and death overs. Patel achieved the landmark of 150 IPL wickets by removing some important batters using clever changes in his bowling. In the 20th over which Nitish Reddy bowled for the first time this season, there was a lot of action. Nicholas Pooran and Akash Deep were able to hit sixes, but losing three wickets, two of which were through run-outs, meant LSG ended up with 205/7. When Pooran failed to hit a six until the last over, it showed that the pitch was getting slower.
Abhishek’s quickfire knock from the beginning sets the mood for SRH’s victory :
The start of SRH’s chase saw Abhishek Sharma and Atharva Taide use the powerplay to score big runs. Taide started his first match for SRH by hitting three fours, but Will O’Rourke dismissed him for his first IPL wicket. Ishan Kishan teamed up with Abhishek and the duo scored 72 runs in the powerplay, with Abhishek hitting three fours in a row off Avesh Khan.
SRH’s chase benefited from Abhishek’s fiery 59 off 20 balls which included a 18-ball half-century. Trying to overpower Digvesh Rathi in the eighth over, he was caught by Shardul Thakur off a hit down the ground. After being dismissed, Rathi and Abhishek got into an argument, forcing the umpire to separate them. After hitting a six at the beginning, Kishan was dismissed for 35 off 28 when he tried to sweep the ball in the reverse direction against Rathi.
Klaasen and Mendis help to secure the victory for their team :
As 86 runs still had to be scored in 10 overs, Heinrich Klaasen and Kamindu Mendis guided their team. Klaasen played brilliantly and scored 47 off 27 deliveries, making two fours and landing a six, while Mendis added 31 from his 20 deliveries. Their pair of 55 runs off 36 balls assured SRH of a comfortable victory. It was during the 14th over when Mendis smashed three fours against Rathi, making it almost impossible for LSG to win.
As 11 runs remained for victory, Klaasen was stumped by Shardul Thakur, while Mendis, after hurting his hamstring, left the field. But Nitish Reddy (still unbeaten) managed to finish the chase by hitting a boundary and a single, ending the game at 206/4, 10 balls still available. The team demonstrated their strength and talent, despite missing Travis Head.
Key Performance :
- Abhishek Sharma (59 off 20) powered the chase for SRH by taking advantage of LSG’s poor bowling early in the match.
- Thanks to Heinrich Klaasen, SRH could keep the pressure on the opposition the middle stage of the game.
- Rathi (2-37) managed to get rid of both Abhishek and Kishan, yet his lack of experience was noticeable in the last over against Mendis
- Markram and Marsh (126) built a great start for their team, but they were unable to score many runs in the final overs.
- With 150 wickets in the IPL, Harshal Patel kept LSG from scoring freely in the middle overs.
The game was decided in the powerplay, where SRH made 72 runs, making the remaining runs needed for victory very manageable. Since Mayank Yadav was not playing, LSG’s bowling lineup was weak and had to depend on uncapped Rathi which also meant the team lacked depth.
Outcomes for the Tournament :
For SRH, the win was significant because it assured them two points and made their net run rate better, something important for reaching the playoffs. After losing, LSG saw their hopes for the playoffs fade, so they began considering new strategies for future seasons.
Off-Field Developments :
A report emerged after the match that the LSG team had a tense gathering. It was reported that owner Sanjiv Goenka had a strong conversation with the captain, Rishabh Pant which led people to expect issues between the team. It demonstrates how teams and players are under a lot of pressure in the IPL
The results of the matches will have an effect on the IPL 2025 standings
With the defeat, LSG was out of the playoff competition, as the fifth team to leave, so Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals are now competing for the remaining playoff spot. Since SRH was out of the running, they climbed to eighth place on 9 points, indicating their abilities despite not having a strong season. SRH’s impressive batting was too much for LSG’s bowling to handle, even without Travis Head taking part.
Strategic Insights :
Relying on Rathi, who is a new bowler, put LSG in trouble, but SRH’s smart bowling and tactics held LSG’s score down. Led by Cummins, the Indians wisely bowled first and gave their batters a chance to chase the target. Since Travis Head was unavailable, SRH had to change their game and Taide and Abhishek proved how strong their team is.
Conclusion :
The 6-wicket win against LSG on May 19 showed how well SRH can bat and think on the field. Abhishek Sharma and his partners Klaasen and Mendis played the winning inning and the LSG bowlers couldn’t stop them which resulted in LSG missing the playoffs. The game, characterized by exciting batting and dramatic moments, is likely to be remembered as a clear upset in this year’s IPL.
Brief Scores
LSG Innings : 205/7 (20 overs) Mitchell March 65 off 39 Balls (6 Fours And 4 Sixes), Aiden Markram 61 off 38 Balls (4 Fours And 4 Sixes).
SRH Bowling : Eshan Malinga 2/28 (4 Overs), Nitish Reddy 1/28 (2 Overs).
SRH innings : 206/4 (18.2 Overs) Abhishek Sharma 59 off 20 Balls (4 Fours And 6 Sixes), Heinrich Klaasen 47 off 28 Balls (4 Fours And 1 Sixes).
LSG Bowling : Digvesh Singh Rathi 2/37 (4 overs), Willam ORourke 1/31 (2.2 Overs).
Player of the Match : Abhishek Sharma
Result : Sunrisers Hyderabad Won by 6 Wickets.
