Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) scored a whopping 286 runs in their opening game, and yet, incredible as it may sound, it’s not even their highest total in the Indian Premier League. Of the top five highest innings totals in IPL, SRH were responsible for four of them. It can’t be attributed to luck or conditions entirely. They must be doing something right to end up with so many exploits. Exactly a year ago, on March 27, Sunrisers posted the then-highest IPL total of 277 runs in Hyderabad. Now back at the same venue, on the same date, can they finally break past the 300-milestone?
For Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), though, their opening game was not as ideal. They did land with a total more than 200, and were poised to end up as the better side against Delhi Capitals in Vizag. With Capitals requiring 62 off the last five overs and four wickets in hand, LSG should have been the favorites to close out the game. But thats not what transpired. Ashutosh Sharma turned the tables around ever so mercilessly, and before LSG could fathom it, he sneaked away with the first two points for his team. Now, having a nought in the points column, they will need to fight a rampant SRH in their backyard in order to bid for their first points.
Team Overview:
SRH’s puissance is not limited only to Travishek anymore. Ishan Kishan’s searing 106 off 47 balls was a part of his audition to join the demolition cult. The entire Hyderabad city quaked under the force of the SRH batters going bang bang. Every batter of the host team scored at a strike rate of at least 200. The conditions certainly assisted them, which is part of the reason why their bowlers too had to endure a beating. But it would be unfair not to credit the Sunrisers’ all-out mindset for the annihilation.
What went wrong for LSG? They seemed to have everything checked. Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh got them off to a flying start, but that was about it. The remaining Lucknow batters could not carry forward the same momentum, and scored less than 50 runs in the final seven overs. However, their bowlers quickly rebuild whatever of their tempo was lost by reducing the Capitals to three wickets down for just seven runs. But suddenly, as if due to some divine intervention, DC stepped on the gas with all they had and never stopped until they won the game.
Head-to-Head Match:
The short history between both teams favours LSG. Out of their four encounters with SRH, they have won three. SRH have only ever won one game against the Super Giants.
Weather and Pitch Report:
The last game played here busted the uncertainties, if there were any, about Hyderabad not being favourable enough for batters. It has everything a batter needs to thrive. Both teams would need to be very clever with how they go about choosing the bowlers because no matter what the bowlers do, they will get punished.
Hyderabad is hot and dry during this time of the year, which takes rain interference out of the equation.
Prediction:
The last time both teams played a game in Hyderabad, SRH chased 165 runs in under 10 overs, with 10 wickets to spare. So, outdoing Hyderabad in Hyderabad would be a task as daunting as can be, and they are likely to fall short in this challenge.
Where to Watch:
India: Star Sports Network, JioHotstar
UK: Sky Sports, SkyGo
USA: Willow TV
Australia: Kayo TV, FoxTel Go
Bangladesh: T Sports, Toffee app
New Zealand: Sky Sports NZ
Afghanistan: ATN
South Africa: SuperSport
Sri Lanka: Dialog
MENA: Cricbuzz
