Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Punjab Kings in IPL 2024© AFP
Sunrisers Hyderabad retained the fifth spot in the IPL 2024 points table with a narrow win over Punjab Kings on Tuesday. The two-run win puts SRH level on points with Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Super Giants and Chennai Super Kings, but their Net Run Rate (NRR) is the worst compared to the other three. Punjab Kings, on the other hand, remain sixth in the rankings despite the loss as they have the same number of points as Gujarat Titans but a better NRR. Rajasthan Royals remain at the top of the standings with eight points and are currently the only unbeaten side in the competition.
Young Nitish Reddy showed great character during a crucial 37-ball 64 as Sunrisers Hyderabad registered a two-run win over Punjab Kings, surviving a bold attack from Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma.
The 20-year-old Reddy was sent to bat and lifted SRH to 182/9 after PBKS had the visitors reeling at 66 for four in the 10th over.
PBKS were stopped at 180/6, but they would not have gone so far had it not been for a scintillating partnership of 66 runs between the heroes of their last match, Shashank (46 not out from 25 balls) and Ashutosh (33 not out from 15 balls ).
Needing 29 runs in Jaydev Unadkat's final overbow, SRH dropped three catches as Shashank and Ashutosh came within touching distance of another stunning win.
Visakhapatnam-born Reddy, who started out as a batsman at the age group level before emerging as a bowling all-rounder, hit five sixes and four fours during his unbeaten knock.
Left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh (4/29) was the standout bowler for PBKS, but SRH still ended up with a total that looked unlikely at one point. Abdul Samad chipped in with a 12-ball 25 before Jaydev Unadkat ended the SRH innings with a last-ball six.
(With PTI inputs)
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