A century stand between half-centurion Rahul Tripathi and skipper Aiden Markram coupled with four-wicket haul by spinner Mayank Markande helped Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) put an end to Punjab Kings (PBKS) two-match winning run, defeating the visitors by eight wickets at the home arena of Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on Sunday. With the win, SRH has climbed to the eighth position with one win and two losses in three matches and two points. PBKS has slipped to sixth position to sixth position with two wins and a loss in two matches and four points. In chase of 144 runs, SRH was off to a solid start, with openers Mayank Agarwal and Harry Brook playing some classy shots.
However, pacer Arshdeep Singh continued his tradition of striking in the powerplay, dismissing Brook for 13 off 14 balls. It was yet another disappointing outing for Brook in IPL 2023. SRH was reduced to 27/1 at 3.5 overs after Arshdeep crashed his leg stump. Rahul Tripathi joined Mayank and the duo took SRH through the remainder of the powerplay. At the end of six overs, SRH was at 34/1, with Mayank (18*) and Tripathi (3*) unbeaten.
Rahul Chahar’s spin put an end to Mayank’s brief knock of 21 in 20 balls, consisting of three fours. SRH was reduced to 45/2 in 8.3 overs.
At the end of 10 overs, SRH was at 67/2, with Tripathi (31*) joined by skipper Aiden Markram (2*) at the crease. Tripathi was on a boundary-hitting spree, smashing Rahul for two successive fours in ninth over and Harpreet Brar for three fours in a row in the next.
Markram continued as an anchor from the other end while Tripathi expressed himself with full freedom, bringing up his 11th IPL fifty, his first in this season in just 35 balls with seven fours and two sixes. Markram-Tripathi brought up fifty-run stand in just 28 balls. SRH brought up the 100-run mark in 14.2 overs thanks to a four by Markram. Markram and Tripathi smashed Mohit Rathee for 21 runs in that over, hitting three fours and a six. At the end of 15 overs, SRH was at 118/2, with Tripathi (65*) and Markram (19*) unbeaten. In the next over, Markram smashed Nathan Ellis for four boundaries, leaving the side with three to win in 18 balls. SRH ended the chase successfully, finishing at 145/2 in 17.2 overs, with Tripathi (74* in 48 balls with 10 fours and three sixes) and Markram (37* off 21 balls with six fours). The duo also completed their 100-run stand in 52 balls.
Arshdeep and Rahul took a wicket each for PBKS. A one-man-army effort in the form of skipper Shikhar Dhawan helped Punjab Kings reach a respectable total of 143/9 in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday.
