“While we were bowling, we felt it was a bit [of a] slow window. So we knew that somehow if we took on the powerplay then we could go with the flow after that,” Abhishek, the Man of the Match in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s six-wicket win, told the host broadcaster after of the game. “We had a chance to prepare much before the IPL. We knew it was going to be a little slow. But not much. “If we face the bowler, it will be difficult for him too.”
It was Abhishek’s second Man of the Match award, having taken home the trophy following his 23-ball 63 against Mumbai Indians.
“As the ball grew, it got slower and slower and we couldn’t take advantage of it at the end, plus they took advantage of the conditions very well.”
Travis Head and Aiden Markram consolidated after the fall of Abhishek Sharma•BCCI
CSK’s hopes of defending 165 were quickly dashed by Abhishek and Travis Head, who added 46 for the first wicket in 16 balls. Moeen Ali dropped Head on the second ball of the innings at slip off Deepak Chahar, and Abhishek hit Mukesh Choudhary for 27 runs in the second over. CSK had no way back.
“I think 170-175 was still an even score, given that we would have had a great power play to start in the bowling department,” Gaikwad said. “But we didn’t have a great powerplay with a failed catch and a great over. To drag the game to the 18th over was a great effort.”
Markram took the game forward, first adding 60 runs with Head and then 26 runs with Shahbaz Ahmed. SRH slowed down in the middle overs but the platform made their lives easier as they crossed the line with 11 balls to spare.
“As the ball got a little older and softer, it started to slow down and spin a little bit and obviously got a little harder,” Markram said. “When you’re in a tough spot, you still have to assess the batsman, you need to assess that position.”