Lucknow/IBNS: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) powered to a 6-wicket win in what turned out to be a literally a knockout punch for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

Chasing 206, SRH made short work of the total, chasing the total with ten balls to spare. SRH started the chase confidently with Taide brought in to open, hitting a flurry of boundaries before William O’Rourke got rid of him. Despite losing a wicket early, SRH did not slow down.

The chase was spearheaded by Abhishek Sharma, who showed why he is one of the most feared T20 openers going around the circuit. He smashed a half century in just 18 balls, including hitting four sixes in a row off Ravi Bishnoi, destroying his hopes of making a good comeback after being left out earlier in the tournament.

The assault left a much lesser target for the rest of the team and while Ishan Kishan seemingly played a relatively slowish innings before getting out, the target wasn’t compelling enough. Henrich Klassen and Kamindu Mendis ensured there were no further jitters, and while Klassen got out and Kamindu Mendis had to leave the field due to a hamstring injury, the runs remaining were far too less for them to worry and SRH won the game with 10 balls to spare.

Digvesh Singh was the best bowler for LSG, getting rid of the batters mentioned above, Abhishek, and Kishan. However, there was too much for him to do, and with little to no support from the others, the writing was on the wall. 

Earlier, put into bat by Sunrisers, the LSG openers continued the trend of openers doing well upon IPL resumption, putting together a 115-run partnership off just over 10 overs, setting a strong platform from which they would have hoped to reach at least 220. Marsh leading the charge with a well-struck 65, coming off 39 balls. 

The breakthrough was provided by the debutant Harsh Dubey, who finally managed to pick up a wicket after having a couple of chances fluffed off his bowling. Pant fell in the next over, and it seemed the game had turned on its head. When Markram fell in the 16th over for 61, it looked LSG might struggle even to cross 200. 

But thanks to the last of their overseas batter, Pooran, who hit a few boundaries at the end, they managed to end up to 205/7. The Sri Lankan pacer Ehsan Malinga was the pick of the bowlers, ending up with 2/28. On the other hand, their death over specialist Harshal Patel had a terrible day at the office and struggled to control the ball, bowling a couple of costly no-balls and a few wide balls, making the matter worse.

From a qualification standpoint, the focus will now turn towards the Mumbai Indians v Delhi Capitals fixture, which becomes another knockout match, especially for DC, who will be hoping to avoid the same fate as LSG on Tuesday. 

A win for DC and a defeat for MI, on the other hand, still won't confirm the qualifiers, and it will depend on the outcome of both teams' remaining fixtures.

(With inputs from IPL website)