The Sunrisers Hyderabad registered their first points of IPL 2022 with a comprehensive win over the defending champions Chennai Super Kings, who lost their fourth game on the trot, including their eight-wicket trouncing by SRH.
It was an overall failure for Ravindra Jadeja’s men as they were miserable in all departments, a serious issue that needs to be addressed by the Yellow Army. The batting from the four-time champions was disappointing, to say the least, while the bowling was hapless, as Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi made short work of the modest target.
Batting first after losing the toss, Chennai openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and the veteran Robin Uthappa were looking good, but both fell in quick succession within the powerplay as CSK were immediately on to the backfoot. Ambati Rayudu and Moeen Ali were Chennai’s best batsmen on a thoroughly disappointing night for the defending champions, as the experienced duo added 62 runs for the third wicket, with Rayudu being the first to go for a run-a-ball 27.
Ali departed shortly after, as Aiden Markram got rid of him for a well-made 48. Shivam Dube and MS Dhoni were both unable to make any sort of impact as they went back for single-digit scores, while Jadeja played a cameo of 23 in 15 balls to get Chennai to a decent total of 154/7.
At no point were SRH in trouble, as apart from a first ball scare for Abhishek Sharma, the Hyderabad openers were mostly in control. Kane Williamson did struggle to score quickly, but Sharma was brilliant, as he did an excellent job of rotating the strike and making sure that the scoreboard was ticking along.
The New Zealand international eventually departed for a 40-ball 32, following which Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi went berserk. Sharma struck three huge sixes in his innings, while Rahul Tripathi was timing the ball to perfection. Sharma did lose his wicket in the end, trying one big shot too many, but Tripathi was unbeaten on 39 in just 15 balls as SRH wrapped up a clinical win.
Brief scores
Chennai Super Kings 154/7(Ali 48; Rayudu 27; Sundar 2/21) lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad 155/2(Sharma 75; Tripathi 39*; Bravo 1/29) by 8 wickets.
