A No-ball Saves Sunrisers

Sunrisers Hyderabad 217 for 6 (Abhishek 55, Tripathi 47, Chahal 4-29) beat Rajasthan Royals 214 for 2 (Buttler 95, Samson 66) by four wicket with 0 balls remaining.

If someone had suggested that Sunrisers Hyderabad would emerge victorious in match 52 of the IPL tournament on Sunday, they might have been deemed incredulous! After all, they were tasked with chasing an imposing target of 215, and at one point, the required run rate had soared beyond 16. However, in the realm of the IPL, the unimaginable often becomes reality. By the end of the evening, Sunrisers Hyderabad, who had started the match at the bottom of the IPL points table, orchestrated an astonishing turnaround to seize an improbable victory from the grasp of Rajasthan Royals, reigniting their IPL 2023 aspirations. With this remarkable triumph, Sunrisers Hyderabad have ascended to the 9th position on the points table, while Rajasthan Royals remain entrenched at number 4.

The pivotal moment that altered the course of the game was the dramatic no-ball decision made by the umpire. Jaipur Stadium was awash with a sea of jubilation as skipper Sanju Samson and his teammates celebrated, only for the umpire to rule the final delivery bowled by Sandeep Sharma as a no-ball. Suddenly, the jubilation turned to astonishment as everyone retraced their steps to their respective positions. In a jaw-dropping turn of events, Abdul Samad proceeded to strike a maximum, securing a miraculous victory for Sunrisers Hyderabad on Rajasthan Royals’ home turf. The expressions of disbelief and sheer shock were palpable. Prior to this pivotal moment, Glen Phillips’ rapid-fire 25 off 7 deliveries had reignited Sunrisers Hyderabad’s pursuit, and the climactic final over witnessed Rajasthan Royals’ bowler Sandeep Sharma faltering in defending a seemingly formidable target of 17 runs.

The resolute partnership of Abhishek Sharma and Klassen anchored Sunrisers Hyderabad’s chase. Despite the heroic performances by Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson for Rajasthan Royals, their valiant efforts were ultimately in vain.

In the preceding innings, Rajasthan Royals amassed a formidable total of 214 for 2, propelled by a masterful 95 from English opener Jos Buttler and an unbeaten 66 from captain Sanju Samson. Buttler, in conjunction with Yashasvi Jaiswal (35), forged a solid 54-run opening stand before seamlessly knitting together another substantial partnership of 138 runs with Samson (66 not out) in just 13.3 overs. This alliance propelled the Royals to an imposing total after opting to bat.