NEW DELHI: A re-jigged batting order fired in unison as Sunrisers Hyderabad stunned Rajasthan Royals at their home to clinch a high-scoring last-ball IPL thriller in Jaipur on Sunday.
Leveraging on a crucial last-ball no-ball from Sandeep Sharma, Sunrisers snatched the cliffhanger to register for their fourth win of the season.
As Sunrisers shot down a challenging 215 target, Aiden Markram and co. registered the joint third highest successful chase in the history of the competition.
With 17 needed off the final over and 4 needed off the final ball, power-hitter Abdul Samad smashed a six off the last ball to help Sunrisers register a memorable win. With the thrilling victory, Sunrisers also kept their playoffs hopes alive while Rajasthan suffered their third defeat on the trot.
As It Happened
The foundation of the chase was laid by top-order batters Abhishek Sharma (55) and Rahul Tripathi (47) but it was the Glenn Phillips 7-ball 25 cameo that turned the game on its head and reignited the chase.
Phillips collected 22 runs in the penultimate over before getting out but provided a big window to the visitors to bounce back in the chase. Samad and Marco Jansen then held their nerves to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the final over.
SRH needed 17 runs off the final over bowled by Sandeep with Samad and Jansen at the crease. Samad hit a six off the second ball to leave the equation to five runs from the last delivery when the drama unfolded.
Everybody thought Samad was out with Jos Buttler taking a catch near the boundary but the umpire called for a no-ball and the last delivery was re-bowled.
SRH needed four runs for a win, but Samad (17 not out) then dispatched Sharma’s delivery for a six to reach 217 for 6 and notch up one of the most improbable wins in the IPL, leaving RR players shell shocked.
Number six batter Phillips (25 off 7 balls) played a crucial part in the turnaround of SRH’s fortunes as they needed 69 off the last five overs though with eight wickets in hand.
Phillips spiced up the tall chase by hitting three consecutive sixes and a four off inexperienced pacer Kuldip Yadav in the penultimate over to raise hopes of a stunning win.
Ultimately, RR spinner Yuzvendra Chahal’s (4/29) fine effort went in vain, though at one stage it looked like a comfortable win for RR.
SRH began the run chase on a cautious note as they lacked in fireworks in the powerplay overs at the end of which they were 52 for 1 with impact player Anmolpreet Singh becoming the first victim of Chahal.