SRH were in deep trouble early on, reeling at 35/4 inside the first 10 overs after Shami’s incisive spell dismantled their top order. The experienced pacer returned figures of 4-0-9-2, including 18 dot balls, applying relentless pressure on the hosts.
Shami removed the dangerous opening duo of Abhishek Sharma (0) and Travis Head (7) in quick succession using well-disguised slower deliveries, while Prince Yadav accounted for Ishan Kishan (1) with a sharp in-swinger. Liam Livingstone also failed to make an impact, falling soon after as SRH slumped to 26/4.
Klaasen, Reddy Lead Stunning Counterattack
With the innings in disarray, Heinrich Klaasen and Nitish Kumar Reddy orchestrated a remarkable recovery. The duo stitched together a 116-run partnership for the fifth wicket, shifting the momentum dramatically.
After a cautious start, both batters adopted an aggressive approach, taking the attack to the bowlers. Between overs 11 and 15, SRH plundered 79 runs, with Klaasen (62 off 41) and Reddy (56 off 33) clearing the ropes regularly.
Their stand featured seven sixes and eight boundaries, turning what seemed like a sub-100 total into a competitive one. At one stage, SRH even looked set to push towards the 180-mark.
LSG Regain Control at the Death
However, LSG clawed their way back in the death overs. Manimaran Siddharth broke the crucial partnership by dismissing Reddy, while Avesh Khan struck twice in quick succession, removing Klaasen and Harsh Dubey to halt SRH’s surge.
Prince Yadav then delivered a disciplined final over, conceding just 10 runs to ensure SRH were restricted to a below-par total.
Shami’s Masterclass Sets the Tone
Shami’s spell stood out not just for the wickets but for his tactical acumen. Recognising the nature of the pitch early, he smartly took pace off the ball and relied on variations to trouble the batters.
He set the tone by removing both openers in consecutive overs, with clever field placements and execution playing a key role. His ability to adapt quickly and apply pressure upfront proved crucial in tilting the balance in LSG’s favour.
Teams (from)
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Ishan Kishan (c), Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Aniket Verma, R. Smaran, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Kamindu Mendis, Harshal Patel, Brydon Carse, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga, Zeeshan Ansari, Liam Livingstone, Shivam Mavi, Salil Arora, Shivang Kumar, Omkar Tarmale, Krains Fuletra, Praful Hinge, Amit Kumar, Sakib Hussain, Jack Edwards and Pat Cummins.
Lucknow Super Giants: Rishabh Pant (c), Ayush Badoni, Matthew Breetzke, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Arshin Kulkarni, Mitchell Marsh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Akash Maharaj Singh, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Shami, Prince Yadav, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Arjun Sachin Tendulkar, Mayank Prabhu Yadav, Wanindu Hasaranga, Anrich Nortje, Josh Inglis, Abdul Samad, Himmat Singh, Naman Tiwari, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Mohsin Khan, Manimaran Siddharth, Mukul Choudhary.
