Match 52, Jaipur, May 07, 2023, 07:30 PM
Rajasthan Royals
214/2(20.0ov)
Sunrisers Hyderabad
217/6(20.0ov)
Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Rajasthan Royals by 4 wickets
That is it from this game and also from a high-octane weekend in the Indian T20 League. The tournament is nearing the business end and on Monday, the 8th of May, Kolkata will take on Punjab at the Eden Gardens in a crucial encounter. That game will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT) but our build-up will begin a lot sooner. Do join us then. Take care and goodbye!
Glenn Phillips (25 runs off 7 balls) is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his game-changing cameo. He starts by saying that it was a situation where it was going to go one out of two ways and is happy to come out on top. Mentions that we are all here to do the job and it was what the team needed the most. Shares that it was fantastic for all the hard work to pay off. On his wicket ball, he says that it was the ball he should have hit the most. Reckons that when he got out he felt he left a lot out there but then Abdul Samad did what he did and feels that they were obviously lucky with the no ball.
Hyderabad's skipper, Aiden Markram says that the emotions in the dugout changed pretty quickly but they are happy with the win. Adds that they knew on this outfield they would be able to catch up and reckons that everyone contributed. Goes on to applaud the way Abhishek Sharma played in the Powerplay and also mentions Rahul Tripathi played well. Ends by saying that he has no idea how the likes of Glenn Phillips and Abdul Samad pulled off the win in the end.
The Presentation ceremony...
Abdul Samad, the man of the moment for Hyderabad is down for a quick chat. On the final delivery, he says that they realized it was a no ball after they crossed and then he asked Marco Jansen to come back. Feels that Glenn Phillips gave them the impetus and the partnership in the Powerplay was important as well. Shares that he was waiting for the ball to come into his zone. Also says that Glenn Phillips was the game-changer for them. Ends by saying that they will look to carry this momentum forward in the coming matches.
Sanju Samson, the skipper of Rajasthan, starts by saying that the Indian T20 League gives you matches like this and adds that you never feel you have won until you have actually won it. Shares that he was confident with Sandeep Sharma and he almost did it again today but the no ball ruined the result. Feels that Hyderabad batted sensibly and credits them for the same. Mentions that life is never easy playing this format and tournament and ends by saying that they will look to do it all over again.
Earlier in the game, Rajasthan won the toss and opted to bat first and this turned out to be an excellent decision as the pitch was a good one and Yashasvi Jaiswal was on song. Jaiswal played a quickfire inning while Jos Buttler settled in at the other end. Once Jaiswal fell, the pair of Buttler and Sanju Samson took the Hyderabad bowlers apart and put on a big stand. Buttler got out at 95, just short of what would have been a record-equalling 6th hundred in the history of the tournament. Samson though ensured his team got over the 210-run mark and stayed unbeaten on 66 runs off 38 balls. There wasn't much to talk about Hyderabad's bowling as only T Natarajan showed some control and Abhishek Sharma bowled a couple of fairly economical overs. Coming to the chase, it was topsy-turvy with Rajasthan almost always just in front. But once the hosts did get a clear advantage, they let it slip and ended up on the losing side.
Rajasthan have been left huffing and puffing after that loss as it is yet another one that they seemed to have in the bag but just couldn't hold on. Having put on 214 runs on the board, all they needed were a couple of early wickets but their pacers didn't start off well. Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal did bowl well in the middle phase but Chahal was held back and the third spinner, Murugan Ashwin was hit away for runs. Chahal did come back later on and ended up with 4 wickets, putting his team in pole position to get the win. However, under pressure, young Kuldip Yadav faltered and was hit for 24 runs in the penultimate over. Rajasthan's most consistent death bowler this season, Sandeep Sharma bowled a big no ball on the final delivery as he overstepped and then was put away for a maximum as well which meant Rajasthan suffered their 6th loss of the season.
Hyderabad, just like Delhi, have given themselves an outside chance of making it through to the playoffs with their fourth win of the season. The target in front of them was a big one but they started off well with the bat as Anmolpreet Singh and Abhishek Sharma added 51 quick runs for the first wicket. It was then Sharma who went on to score a half-century and Rahul Tripathi gave him enough support. Tripathi played a handy knock with Heinrich Klaasen notching up 26 runs off just 12 balls as well. They did lose a few wickets toward the end and with 41 needed off the last 12 balls, Glenn Phillips gave fillip to the chase as he took Kuldip Yadav to the cleaners smoking 22 runs off the first 4 balls before getting out. With 5 needed off the final ball Abdul Samad was caught at long off but got a bit lucky as it turned out to be a no ball. Still, needing a boundary to win off the last ball, Samad managed to hit a maximum and get his side over the line.
Crazy scenes, crazy game! Abdul Samad was caught out off the final ball but it turned out to be a no ball and now he has hit a maximum to seal one of the most memorable wins ever for Hyderabad. It was absolutely heartbreaking for Rajasthan as they had the game in their hands with two overs to go, but a couple of costly last overs have dealt a huge blow to their playoff chances.
In over# 20
6
1nb
1
1
2
6
2
Sandeep Sharma 48/0(4)
19.6
6
SIX! Abdul Samad has done it for Hyderabad! Sandeep keeps it full and outside off from 'round the wicket, Abdul Samad shuffles across and sets himself into a good position. Swings through the line and whacks it back over the bowler's head for a maximum. Joy on the faces of Hyderabad players and despair on the faces of Rajasthan players and their fans. Hyderabad win by 4 wickets.
19.6
1nb
NO BALL! Would you believe it? Sandeep Sharma has overstepped on the last ball. Goes full and outside off, Abdul Samad gets underneath the delivery but ends up hitting it flat and straight down the throat of Jos Buttler at long off. The Rajasthan players start to celebrate but the umpire extends his right hand to signal a no ball. The batters do not run and it will be Abdul Samad to face the Free Hit delivery. Hyderabad need 4 off the last ball.
Oh, no! It seemed like Rajasthan won the game but Sandeep Sharma has overstepped. The umpires are checking if the batters crossed when the catch was taken. It will just be a no ball and not a single. So, 4 needed off the final delivery and the tension inside the stadium is palpible.
19.5
1
Another good yorker on middle, Marco Jansen clips it to mid-wicket for one more run. Hyderabad need 5 off the last delivery.
19.4
1
Low full toss and outside off, Abdul Samad knocks it down to long off for one more run.
19.3
2
Nails the yorker, on middle, Abdul Samad squeezes this one to long off and comes back for the second run.
19.2
6
SIX! Just over by Abdul Samad! Full and at the stumps, Abdul Samad shuffles and drills it hard and flat to long on. Joe Root stationed there leaps and gets his left hand to the ball. The ball does not stick and goes over the fence for a maximum.
19.1
2
DROPPED! Full and wide outside off from 'round the wicket, Abdul Samad has a swing through the line. Slices it in the air towards short third man. Obed McCoy backtracks but does not manage to hang onto it. The batters run two in the process.