Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) batting star Travis Head 'never expected' how he and fellow opener Abhishek Sharma chased down the total of 166 in 9.4 overs in the IPL 2024 match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Wednesday night at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Head hit a half-century 16-ball with an astonishing display of cricketing shots and remained unbeaten on 89 off just 33 deliveries to guide his team home. Along with his opening duo Abhishek Sharma, he amassed 166 runs in the opening partnership and scored 107 runs in the powerplay compared to LSG's 27.
“I don't think we ever expected to go after it like this,” Head admitted at the post-match press conference. “It looked like a heavy wicket in the first innings, it looked like it was holding up and a slow delivery. I think knowing that as a batsman you know the powerplay is important. (We tried) to maximize that and we did a great job played, we were able to get ahead of the pace, which is nice. And once we got going in the first two or three overs, it was about trying to maximize that as much as possible and I felt like we got our way. selected goals and played very well,” he said.
SRH quashed LSG's challenge by first quelling them with the new ball and then launching a sensational chase of 166 in just 9.4 overs, the highest 10-over score in any T20. In all T20 cricket, only seven times have 100 or more been scored in the powerplay, SRH have the two top scores, both in IPL 2024.
“You always want to perform, you always want to be consistent, you always want to try to do your job; that's not always going to happen in T20 cricket (but) I loved the way we played. We'll have ups and downs We had that. Nice to be able to chase a score tonight after we were put under pressure by those who were batting (first).
“A few times we've been chasing all season, we've been pushed. To be able to put in the work and chase tonight (it feels great). I'm looking forward to the next two games when I get home well,” Head said.
Head and Abhishek have combined for three centuries in the IPL, two of which came in the powerplay. SRH is the only side with an opening stand of more than a century in the IPL 2024.
“It's fun to just come here and contribute. I wasn't sure if I was going to play. Fun to try, fun to perform, and working with Abhi has been fantastic. He's such an exciting talent for Indian cricket “He is exceptional. We complement each other well and are a lot of fun to be around. He's so excited and thinking about the game, he's got a lot of energy so he's a great partnership to be involved in,” Head said of the opening stand before adding that the middle order also has a key role played for SRH.
“I think the Kings game (against Punjab Kings) is a blueprint for us in the way we can approach the game. It's not always going to work at the top of the order, we're going to lose wickets, but we want to get through it be brave all the way around [Reddy] has played some incredible innings, obviously we have Klassy (Heinrich Klaasen) and (Abdul) Samad is finishing it off for us…
“Everyone has a lot of confidence, everyone is playing well, we are not dependent on the top class. Yes, we are playing well, but I don't think that defines the team. I feel like we have a very strong mid-range. …we are currently very well attuned to each other,” he concludes.
SRH will next take on Gujarat Titans on May 16 and will conclude their league phase on May 19 against Punjab Kings at their home.
–IANS
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