Comprehensive SRH performance deepens CSK's woes

The Sunrsers Hyderabad (SRH) defeated the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the sixteenth game of the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL). The match was played in the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Abhishek Sharma was adjudged to be the Man of the Match.

Ali comes to the party

The CSK innings was never really fully in control from the start. While the team and Robin Uthappa opened their account with a boundary off the second ball of the innings, it was off the outside edge of the bat and eluded the slip in place. Things seemed to settle down in the next two overs, as both Uthappa and Ruturaj Gaikwad seemed to find their rhythm. However, Washington Sundar, the powerplay specialist, got rid of Uthappa with his first ball of the match and Thangarasu Natrajan cleaned up the other opener with a pinpoint yorker.

The rescue job then started for Moeen Ali and Ambati Rayudu, both who have shown flashes of their brilliance this year, but were yet to capitalise on those starts. Just as the run rate was stagnating, the two experienced players slashed young Umran Malik for 12 runs off the 9th over. From there on out, the two rotated strike consistently and kept the scoreboard ticking.

While the runs came at a steady rate, there were some rather rusty and unconvincing moments during the partnership. For instance, Ali seemed to be taken by surprise at the wicket being a tad slower than he expected and his innings nearly ended had it not been for Malik to drop him at third man. Nevertheless, Ali seemed to seize the opportunity and punished Malik once again the next over, whacking him for 13 runs.

With all said and done, Rayudu and Ali added 62 for the 3rd wicket before Sundar and Aiden Markram saw the backs of the two respectively. The CSK batters failed to provide the finishing touches, barring Ravindra Jadeja, and the team total was set at 155.

Williamson hangs in there

The reputation Kane Williamson holds in cricket is embedded in the history books. This season, however, the New Zealand and Hyderabad captain has had slow starts and failed to carry the innings like most would have expected.

This afternoon, too, Williamson was not particularly spectacular. He went at well less than a-run-a-ball, giving strike to Abhishek Sharma for the most part. The idea was not wrong, especially given how Sharma batted without fear, and Williamson played his part by giving him quiet company.

Sharma repays the faith

Abhishek Sharma, as a player, was a big punt SRH took on before this year’s player auction. After the dismal season they had last year, Sharma was one of just three players the team management looked to as future prospects. So far, he had been under scrutiny for a poor run of form, but his innings against CSK changed opinions.

As Williamson was set on chasing the total calmly, the onus was on Sharma to take on the bowlers. After a watchful start, the left-hander took on Maheesh Theekshana in the last over of the powerplay, thumping him for 13 runs. From there on out, he went after virtually everyone else, and the required run rate dropped down with each passing over.

There was a bit of an anticlimax when Sharm fell one run short for his first IPL half century, but the flamboyant batter got it the next one. Even after reaching his 50, Sharma continued to play shots at will, before finally being dismissed for 75 off 50 balls. He had played his part, and Rahul Tripathi, finished the game for SRH, finishing on an unbeaten 39 off 15 balls.