Sunrisers Hyderabad chase down 206 with ease as Lucknow Super Giants bow out of IPL 2025 playoff contention
Lucknow, May 20:
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a thumping six-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Stadium on Monday. Powered by explosive knocks from Abhishek Sharma (59 off 20) and Heinrich Klaasen (47 off 28), SRH chased down 206 with 10 balls to spare.
With this loss, LSG are officially out of IPL 2025 playoff contention, having registered just five wins in 12 matches. SRH now sit in eighth place with nine points from 12 games.
Chasing a daunting target of 206, SRH got off to a shaky start with Atharva Taide falling for 13, but Abhishek Sharma’s fireworks soon tilted the momentum. He blasted four boundaries and six sixes, reaching his fifty in just 18 balls and punishing Ravi Bishnoi with four consecutive sixes.
Following his dismissal, Ishan Kishan (35) and Klaasen took charge, with the latter showing his finishing skills. Although Klaasen missed his fifty, SRH were well on course when he departed at 195/4. Kamindu Mendis (25 off 13) played a vital supporting role, while Aniket Verma and Nitish Reddy saw the chase through to 206/4 in 18.2 overs.
Digvesh Rathi (2/37) was the pick of LSG’s bowlers, claiming his maiden IPL wickets.
Earlier, LSG posted 205/7 on the back of a solid 115-run opening partnership between Mitchell Marsh (65 off 39) and Aiden Markram (61 off 36). The duo launched a boundary assault early, helping LSG reach 69/0 in the powerplay and cross 100 in the ninth over.
Despite quick dismissals of Marsh, Markram, and skipper Rishabh Pant (7) in the middle overs, Nicholas Pooran (45 off 26) provided the late fireworks to push LSG past the 200-run mark. However, it wasn’t enough to stop an SRH side determined to stay alive in the tournament.
SRH now have two more league games and will need results to go their way to keep their playoff hopes afloat, while LSG bow out with pride after a fighting total but yet another bowling collapse.