Sunrisers Hyderabad delivered a clinical performance in Match 61 of IPL 2025, knocking Lucknow Super Giants out of the playoff race with a commanding 6-wicket victory. The match, held at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, saw SRH comfortably chase down a steep target of 206 runs to notch their fourth win of the season. For Lucknow, this marked their seventh loss, officially ending their playoff aspirations.
Lucknow Posts Competitive 205, But It Wasn’t Enough
After winning the toss, SRH opted to field first. Lucknow got off to a strong start, thanks to a brilliant 115-run opening partnership between Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram. Marsh smashed 65, while Markram added a classy 61. Nicholas Pooran chipped in with a quickfire 45 off 26 balls, helping LSG post 205/7 in their 20 overs.
However, SRH’s bowlers struck back in the middle overs to prevent a bigger total. Ishan Malinga led the charge with 2 wickets for 28 runs, while Harsh Dubey, Harshal Patel, and Nitish Kumar Reddy chipped in with one wicket each to halt the momentum.
Abhishek’s Blazing Knock Sets the Tone for SRH
In response, Sunrisers Hyderabad began their chase with sheer aggression. Abhishek Sharma launched a brutal assault, hammering 59 runs off just 20 balls to put Hyderabad in control from the start. His fireworks, coupled with a strong powerplay partnership alongside Ishan Kishan (35 off 28), tilted the match decisively in SRH’s favor.
Though Digvesh Rathi dismissed Abhishek in the 8th over, the momentum had already shifted. Heinrich Klaasen (47*) and Kamindu Mendis (32*) ensured a calm finish, guiding Hyderabad to victory with one over to spare.
Lucknow’s Campaign Ends in Disappointment
It has been a turbulent season for Lucknow Super Giants. Key players like Rishabh Pant and David Miller underperformed, while Nicholas Pooran’s initial form faded as the tournament progressed. On the bowling front, Lucknow struggled significantly in the powerplay, often failing to strike early blows. Injuries to key bowlers like Mayank Yadav only made things worse.
With this latest defeat, LSG’s rollercoaster season came to a premature end—leaving fans and the franchise pondering what could have been.
