Uncapped opener Abhishek Sharma lifted Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) from the bottom as they registered their first win of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by eight wickets at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai. CSK are going through probably their worst IPL season as they faced their fourth defeat in a row under the leadership of new captain Ravindra Jadeja.
Chasing a total of 155, the SRH openers did not let CSK dominate. SRH did not lose a single wicket in the powerplay overs. While skipper Kane Williamson occupied one end, Abhishek did the heavy lifting. From 42/0 in powerplay overs, SRH started accelerating. Abhishek reached his maiden half-century from 32 deliveries in the 12th over. He followed it up with a maximum.
CSK got their first breakthrough in the 13th over. Left-arm pacer Mukesh Choudhary got Williamson's wicket. The New Zealander scored 32 runs from 40 deliveries. Rahul Tripathi came in to bat and lifted all pressure off Abhishek's shoulders. The left-handed batter got out in the 18th over but Tripathi finished the run chase with a boundary in Dwayne Bravo's over. He remained unbeaten for 39 off 15 deliveries including five fours and two sixes. Abhishek gout out after scoring 75 runs from 50 deliveries including five fours and three sixes. SRH won the game with 14 deliveries to spare.
Once again, the Orange Cap winner of last season, Ruturaj Gaikwad failed to score big runs for CSK. Robin Uthappa did not capitalise on a good start either. Uthappa and Gaikwad scored 15 and 16 respectively before they got out in the powerplay overs. Batting at no.3, Moeen Ali took charge of the rebuilding process. He had support from Ambati Rayudu who could only contribute with run-a-ball 27. Hard-hitting Shivam Dube disappointed too and scored just three runs from five deliveries. Washington Sundar and T Natarajan got a couple of wickets each.
Ali missed his half-century by just two runs and became off-spinner Aiden Markram's only victim of the day. MS Dhoni disappointed in death overs and could score only three runs from six deliveries. He became South African debutant Marco Jansen's first IPL wicket in the 18th over. Jadeja contributed with a 15-ball 23 cameo. The southpaw got out to Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the final over. Bravo and Chris Jordan scored crucial runs to get CSK past 150.
