With just 2 runs needed off the last ball for RR to secure victory, Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivered a low full toss to Rovman Powell. Amidst a tense atmosphere, a loud appeal echoed across the field even as Powell and his partner completed a run. The anticipation mounted as the umpire deliberated, finally raising his finger. Powell, initially hopeful, decided to review the decision, though the outcome seemed unlikely to change. Upon review, technology affirmed the umpire’s call, confirming Powell’s dismissal.
In a extraordinary finish, with Rajasthan Royals needing 2 runs off the final delivery, Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivered a similar ball to Rovman Powell. This time, Powell managed to get an inside edge onto the ball. Despite the deflection, the umpire adjudged him out. However, to the dismay of the RR camp, the rules dictated that the ball was dead as soon as the dismissal occurred.
Nail-biting win!
On the commentary, Sunil Gavaskar emphasised the importance of starting a bowling innings with top performers. While it was expected for Rajasthan Royals to open with Trent Boult, known for his knack of taking early wickets, the decision to hand the second over to Ravichandran Ashwin was a surprising move. With Sunrisers Hyderabad facing consecutive losses, the pairing of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, particularly against spin, seemed vulnerable. Ashwin, the experienced Indian off-spinner, found some turn on the pitch.
Jumps of Joy in Hyderabad 🥳
Terrific turn of events from @SunRisers‘ bowlers as they pull off a nail-biting win 🧡
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/zRmPoMjvsd #TATAIPL | #SRHvRR pic.twitter.com/qMDgjkJ4tc
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 2, 2024
Abhishek Sharma attempted to attack him but only managed to clear the sight-screen without properly connecting with the ball. However, both left-handers appeared hesitant against Ashwin’s deliveries, with some balls narrowly missing the bat or grazing the stumps.
Travis Head survived an LBW appeal, though the decision stood with the umpire’s call, indicating his struggle to read Ashwin’s deliveries. Sunrisers hopes to start were thwarted, leading to the loss of a couple of wickets under pressure. It highlighted the preparation and analysis done by the Rajasthan Royals’ team management before each match.
Travis Head’s evening began with a fielding blunder when Riyan Parag missed an easy catch off the first ball. It seemed destined to end with a remarkable fielding display. The SRH opener was caught off guard as he struggled to return to the crease after being deceived by Avesh Khan’s delivery. Sanju Samson, displaying quick thinking, swiftly dislodged the bails with the ball, appearing to have caught Head short of his crease.
The dismissal seemed clear in real-time and even more evident upon replay. Despite numerous zoomed-in views, TV Umpire Rohan Pandit surprisingly ruled that Head’s bat was grounded.
The decision left Kumar Sangakkara incredulous in the RR dugout, while Jos Buttler gestured for a review of the review, a move that Ashwin would have appreciated. The game continued, but Avesh Khan was credited with the wicket instead of a run-out. Head’s fortunes turned dramatically as he attempted to play a ball to the offside.
With every run and boundary scored by Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag, Pat Cummins and Abhishek Sharma felt the pressure mounting inside. The Rajasthan Royals’ start was rocky, with a dismal 1 for 2 after the first over, courtesy of Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s stellar opening spell for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Had Cummins and Abhishek managed to hold onto the catchable chances that came their way, both Jaiswal and Parag would have been dismissed early in the Powerplay.
However, the two young batsmen capitalised on their reprieves and hardly gave the bowlers or fielders any opportunities thereafter during their remarkable 134-run partnership.
Despite the demanding asking rate of over 10 runs per over at the start of the chase, Jaiswal and Parag kept the momentum going. Even after Jaiswal’s departure, Parag maintained the onslaught. His aggressive strokeplay, against both seamers and spinners, consistently found the boundary, even on occasions when he didn’t quite connect with the middle of the bat.
