Sunrisers Hyderabad stunned Chennai Super Kings with a thrilling 5-wicket win, keeping their playoff hopes alive. Chennai’s journey to the playoffs just got a lot tougher. SRH sealed the deal with 8 balls to spare, marking their first-ever win against CSK at Chepauk.
SRH chased down 155, but their start was rocky. Khalil Ahmed dismissed Abhishek Sharma on the second ball of the first over. Travis Head, usually a force to be reckoned with, was quiet, scoring just 19 off 16 balls. Heinrich Klaasen added to the woes, falling for 7. SRH were reeling at 54/3.
A glimmer of hope emerged when Nitish Kumar Reddy and Aniket Verma put together a 36-run stand. But Reddy’s 29-ball 34 left SRH needing 65 off 8 overs. Verma played a steady hand, but his 19 couldn’t turn the tide. Marco Jansen smashed 17* off just 8 balls, guiding SRH to victory.
Key Moments
- SRH lost 3 crucial wickets in the early going.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy and Aniket Verma’s partnership kept SRH in the hunt.
- Marco Jansen’s explosive finish sealed the win.
SRH’s win has mixed emotions. While they’re still in the playoff hunt, CSK’s chances just slipped away.