In the 23rd match of IPL 2024, cricket fans were treated to an electrifying clash between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh. The toss favored PBKS, who elected to bowl first, setting the stage for an enthralling battle between bat and ball.
From the very first delivery, it was evident that the pitch favored the bowlers. Travis Head’s early dismissal, almost missed due to a lack of interest in reviewing by the PBKS camp, set the tone. Arshdeep Singh’s impressive spell saw him claim crucial wickets, including that of Head and Markram, further bolstering PBKS’s dominance.
Despite Abhishek Sharma’s brief cameo, SRH struggled to build momentum in the powerplay, managing only 40 runs for the loss of 3 wickets. However, Nitish Reddy turned the tide with a sensational innings, scoring 64 runs off just 37 balls, shifting the momentum in SRH’s favor.
Although Klassen failed to make a significant impact, Arshdeep Singh’s double blow in the 17th over, dismissing Nitish Reddy and Abdul Samad, limited SRH to 182 runs for the loss of 9 wickets—a challenging total given the pitch conditions. Arshdeep Singh took 4 wicket in his 4 overs.
PBKS faced an uphill task during their run chase, with SRH boasting a formidable pace bowling attack. Bairstow’s early dismissal, followed by Dhawan’s departure, narrowed PBKS’s hopes of victory. Despite a valiant effort from Sam Curran and Sikandar Raza, PBKS found themselves in a precarious position.
However, the heroics of Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma reignited PBKS’s hopes. Both youngsters showcased their talent under pressure, scoring 46 off 25 balls and 33 off 15 balls, respectively. Their partnership brought PBKS back into contention, setting the stage for a thrilling finale.
The last over proved to be a rollercoaster ride, with PBKS needing 29 runs for victory. Amidst dropped catches, wide balls, and dramatic sixes, the match hung in the balance. Ultimately, SRH’s Unadkat held his nerve, delivering crucial deliveries to secure a narrow win by just 2 runs.
Nitish Reddy emerged as the hero of the match, his all-round performance with bat and ball instrumental in SRH’s victory. His fearless batting set the platform for SRH’s total, allowing their bowlers to defend successfully against PBKS’s spirited chase.
In the end, it was a thrilling contest that showcased the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, leaving fans on the edge of their seats till the final ball. It is Nitish Reddy who has been chosen as player of the match but if those 2 runs have scored then anyone between Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma could have won player of the match award. This is called cricket it can change in just one ball or one run.