A record chase at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium saw Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) defeating Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the last-ball thriller on Sunday.
The decision of Sanju Samson to bat first paid off well as Rajasthan went on to post an imposing total of 214/2 in their allotted 20 overs. Yashasvi Jaiswal got them off to a good start with a quickfire 35 off 18 deliveries, but it was Jos Buttler and Samson who stole the show with their brilliant batting.
Buttler top-scored with a stunning 95 off just 59 balls, which included 10 fours and 4 sixes, while Samson scored a blistering 66 off 38 balls, which included 4 fours and 5 sixes.
In reply, Sunrisers got off to a good start, thanks to Anmolpreet Singh and Abhishek Sharma, who scored 33 and 55 runs respectively. Rahul Tripathi also played a crucial knock of 47 off 29 balls, which included 2 fours and 3 sixes, while Heinrich Klaasen and Glenn Phillips contributed with quickfire innings of 26 off 12 balls and 25 off 7 balls respectively.
Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Sunrisers Hyderabad kept the required run-rate in check and ultimately chased down the target with 4 wickets, thanks to Abdul Samad’s last ball heroics. With four needed off the final ball which happened due to the preceding no-ball, Samad held his nerves and smashed a tremendous hit for a maximum to seal the deal for the Aiden Markram-led Sunrisers.
Highest targets successfully chased in the IPL:
- 224 – RR vs PBKJS, Sharjah, 2020
- 219 – MI vs CSK, Delhi, 2021
- 215 – MI vs PBKS, Mohali, 2023
- 215 – RR vs Deccan Chargers, Hyderabad, 2008
- 215 – SRH vs RR, Jaipur, today
Here is how Twitter reacted:
WHAT. A. GAME 😱😱
Abdul Samad wins it for the @SunRisers as he hits a maximum off the final delivery. #SRH win by 4 wickets.
Scorecard – https://t.co/1EMWKvcgh9 #TATAIPL #RRvSRH #IPL2023 pic.twitter.com/yh0WVMEbOz
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 7, 2023
As heartbroken as you are…
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) May 7, 2023
What a ridiculous finish to that IPL game! 🤯
— Sam Billings (@sambillings) May 7, 2023
What a game !! Congratulations @SunRisers @BrianLara ! Well played @josbuttler @IamSanjuSamson @IamAbhiSharma4 and what a finish by #glenphillips and #abdulsamad !!! #SRHvsRR #IPL2023
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) May 7, 2023
What a superb power hitting show by the @SunRisers middle order!! Absolute fireworks from @ABDULSAMAD___1, Phillips & Klassen!! Solid from @IamAbhiSharma4 & @tripathirahul52 as well!! Great win for the @SunRisers but got to feel for @rajasthanroyals! #RRvSRH
— Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) May 7, 2023
41 in 12 and #SRH get it. After winning the game for 18 overs in the chase, #RR mess it up with simple errors. The kind of result that takes a long time to recover from. But it means #RCB, #MI #LSG and #PBKS are feeling good tonight
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 7, 2023
If you are going to play the finisher’s role at the age of 21 you will bound to make mistakes. But if you have guts you will come back and correct your mistake. Well done buddy @ABDULSAMAD___1
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 7, 2023
If Sandeep was playing for Chennai, Dhoni would have posted Pal do pal ka shayar hoon today.
— cricBC (@cricBC) May 7, 2023
THE SHOT WON THE HEART OF ALL SRH FANS. pic.twitter.com/IATc8SBhzL
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 7, 2023
https://t.co/vZEvFwtD1B pic.twitter.com/frAsC5fF3W
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) May 7, 2023
Unbelievable drama and amazing win for SRH. Never leading in the game until it was actually won. To win from 41 in last 2 overs!! A win like this was badly needed for the team, after the heartbreaks for SRH.
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) May 7, 2023
Highest successful chases in IPL:
224 – RR v KXIP 2020
219 – MI v CSK 2021
215 – RR v DC 2008
215 – MI v PBKS 2023
215 – SRH v RR 2023
213 – LSG v RCB 2023
213 – MI v RR 20234 of the 7 in 2023!! #RRvsSRH
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) May 7, 2023
Nothing but only UNLUCKY can define the current state of Rajasthan Royals. Sandeep Sharma was so good with his last over but somehow just somehow the higher powers wanted Abdul Samad to finish this game and make the points table more intense. #RRvsSRH #IPL2023
— Ridhima Pathak (@PathakRidhima) May 7, 2023
SRH seals a thriller against RR: https://t.co/0yoqSSIZ2s#cricket #ipl2023 #RRvSRH #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/HG6QYRH7pl
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) May 7, 2023
