Rahul Tripathi. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Sunrisers Hyderabad finally got over the line in IPL 2023 after brushing aside high-flying Punjab Kings to register a comfortable victory. The home side restricted the Punjab-based outfit to a below-par total despite a brilliant fighting 99* from skipper Shikhar Dhawan. Rahul Tripathi starred for the home side with a brisk half-century in the second innings following Mayank Markande’s four-wicket haul in the first innings.
Chasing a par total on a decent batting strip, Sunrisers Hyderabad made a steady start. But young English batting sensation Harry Brook failed to impress for a third consecutive game after another low score in the tournament. Playing against his former side, Mayank Agarwal played a decent hand to steady the ship for the visitors after Brook’s departure.
However, the home side came under pressure after losing the former Punjab Kings skipper in the ninth over of the chase. Punjab were looking to claw their way back into the match but their plans were spoiled by an explosive innings from Rahul Tripathi.
The explosive top-order batter took on the Punjab bowlers in a scathing assault to make the chase a walk in the park for the home side. He received valiant support from skipper Aiden Markram as the Orange Army finally got off the mark in the points table in IPL 2023.
Punjab Kings struggle despite Shikhar Dhawan’s heroics
Eyeing a third successive victory Punjab Kings made a stuttering start to the match after explosive opener Prabhsimran Singh was dismissed on the very first delivery of the contest. Matthew Short, who was making his IPL debut in the match, was dismissed with just a solitary run to his name.
Jitesh Sharma was the next to depart as the visitors were three down in the powerplay without too many runs on the board. That is when English all-rounder Sam Curran and skipper Shikhar Dhawan got together for a 41-run stand for the fourth wicket. However, Curran’s dismissal triggered a horrendous collapse that saw Punjab lose six wickets for just 26 runs.
It looked like the visitors were going to struggle to reach the three-figure mark in the match, but Dhawan played a sensational lone hand to take his side to a respectable total. The veteran Indian opener remained unbeaten on 99 runs off just 66 deliveries in one of the knocks of the tournament so far.