Sunrisers Hyderabad delivered a commanding performance to defeat Kolkata Knight Riders by 65 runs in a high-scoring IPL clash, showcasing both explosive batting and disciplined bowling.
Defending a formidable total of 226/8, Hyderabad bowled out Kolkata for 161 in just 16 overs. The bowling unit, which had struggled in the previous match, made a strong comeback with Jaydev Unadkat leading the charge with three wickets. Eshan Malinga and Nitish Kumar Reddy chipped in with two wickets each.
Kolkata’s chase began in explosive fashion as Finn Allen smashed 28 off just 7 balls in the opening over. However, his early dismissal triggered a collapse. Captain Ajinkya Rahane and Cameron Green also fell cheaply, putting the team under pressure.
A brief recovery came through Angkrish Raghuvanshi (52 off 29) and Rinku Singh (35 off 25), who added 46 runs for the fourth wicket. But once Raghuvanshi was run out, wickets tumbled rapidly, ending Kolkata’s hopes.
Earlier, Hyderabad got off to a blistering start with openers Travis Head (46 off 21) and Abhishek Sharma (48 off 21) putting on 82 runs for the first wicket. Their aggressive stroke play powered the team past 70 in just five overs.
Despite the strong start, Kolkata bowlers fought back, led by Blessing Muzarabani, who claimed four wickets. Crucial middle-order contributions from Heinrich Klaasen (52 off 35) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (39 off 24) helped Hyderabad cross the 200-run mark.
Although Hyderabad looked set for an even bigger total at one stage, disciplined bowling in the death overs restricted them to 226. However, the total proved more than enough as their bowlers sealed a comprehensive victory.
The win marks a strong comeback for Sunrisers Hyderabad, highlighting their improved bowling attack to complement their already powerful batting lineup.
