IPL 2024: SRH’s record 277 ‘enough’ to leave Hardik Pandya’s MI winless

Photo of Sunrisers Hyderabad celebrating with skipper Pat Cummins.

As Sunrisers Hyderabad amassed the highest-ever IPL total of 277 for three on Wednesday, records fell to all sides. They then successfully defended the score to deny the Hardik Pandya-led team a victory in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Despite scoring more than 500 runs, Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Mumbai Indians by 31 runs to start the season on a positive note in the points standings, as the visitors lost their first two games. Witnessing the most runs scored collectively and the greatest number of sixes ever seen in a T20 match, the Hyderabad crowd was part of history. Up until the second strategic time-out, the game was closely contested despite the apparent margin of defeat.

Playing his 200th game for MI, Rohit Sharma (26), who was chasing a record-breaking 278 for victory, produced some amazing strokes and was well supported by Ishan Kishan (34 off 13), who scored some much-needed runs. With six sixes and some elegant strokeplay, Tilak Varma (64 off 34 balls) produced a superb knock. The Mumbai Indians were headed for something special at 182 for three in 14 overs with seven wickets remaining when they were overcome by relentless pressure from the scoreboard.

In an effort to maintain the necessary run rate, Naman Dhir and Varma played aggressive cricket. Specifically targeting the spinners, Varma easily reached his fifty by hitting sixes. However, after the time-out, SRH captain Cummins delivered a critical blow by dismissing Varma. Although Hardik and Tim David made an effort to steady the Mumbai Indians’ innings, they were unable to match SRH’s superb pace attack, which was defined by deliveries that were short of pace and placed outside off-stump.

SRH SCRIPT IPL HISTORY

Earlier, the Sunrisers Hyderabad batsman produced a batting extravaganza to score the most runs ever in an IPL game: an incredible 277 runs in their allotted 20 overs at a cost of just 3 wickets. The record was previously held by Royal Challengers Bangalore, who defeated Pune Warriors India in 2013 with a massive total of 263/5. SRH broke that record. Three explosive batsmen, Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Heinrich Klaasen, laid the groundwork for SRH’s historic score. Their performances will live on for years to come.

Abhishek Sharma (63 off 23) and Travis Head (62 off 24) combined for an impressive display of power hitting, as the Indian batsman quickly broke the franchise record for the fastest fifty from an Australian. A flurry of boundaries was played in front of the Hyderabad crowd as Head and Sharma ruthlessly dismantled the Mumbai Indians’ bowling attack. Head put on a brilliant display to support his reputation as one of the most dangerous batsmen in the game while playing in his first-ever IPL match for SRH. After Head achieved the feat in just 18 balls, he broke David Warner’s record for the fastest fifty by an SRH batsman. However, 20 balls later, Abhishek Sharma surpassed Head’s time, reaching the milestone in just 16 balls.

Head was given a break early in his innings when his countryman Tim David dropped a catch. He then proceeded to show off his exquisite strokework, hitting deliveries to the boundary with incredible ease and amassing nine fours and three sixes in his barrage. The attack got underway as soon as possible, with SRH scoring 148/2 in just 10 overs, breaking the previous record for the highest total at this point in an IPL innings. With a solid 42 off 28 balls, Aiden Markram also made a big impact, helping the team reach their historic total even faster.

Following Head’s exit, Abhishek launched an all-out attack, concentrating on the cow corner area with three boundaries and seven sixes. Kwena Maphaka, a 17-year-old South African pacer, had a nightmare IPL debut, giving up 66 runs in four overs. After Sharma was removed from the game, Heinrich Klaasen, who was in form at the time, carried on SRH’s six-hitting rampage, finishing with seven sixes, including a spectacular maximum off a Bumrah bouncer. With 80 runs from just 34 deliveries, Klaasen maintained his unbeaten record while putting on a power-hitting clinic. With seven sixes and four fours during his inning, Klaasen evoked the thunderous applause of the crowd with every hit. Aiden Markram, the former captain, scored 42 runs off of 28 balls.

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