Get ready to hold your breath, because the TATA IPL 2023 match 14 between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings was an absolute thriller from start to finish! SRH clinched their first victory of the season with a commanding 8-wicket win over PBKS.
SRH's bowling attack, led by Mayank Markande's (4/15) exceptional performance, proved too much for the Kings to handle, restricting them to a meager 143/9. However, Shikhar Dhawan refused to go down without a fight, displaying a stunning display of grit and determination, scoring a magnificent 99*(off 63). But despite his heroic efforts, it was Rahul Tripathi's (74* off 48) brilliant counter-attacking innings that ultimately stole the show, helping SRH chase down the target with 17 balls to spare.
The SRH pacers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Marco Jansen, wreaked havoc in the PBKS top order, taking out their key players inside the powerplay. Mayank Markande and Umran Malik then joined in the fun, tearing through the middle and lower-middle order. Although Dhawan managed to salvage some pride for PBKS, his efforts were in vain, as the Kings were only able to post a modest total of 143/9.
Chasing 144, SRH got off to a flying start, thanks to the efforts of openers Mayank Agarwal and Harry Brook. They hit six fours in the first 20 balls, setting the tone for what was to come. Although Arshdeep got the better of Brook, dismissing him for 13 off 14, it wasn't enough to slow down the SRH juggernaut.
PBKS seemed to regain the momentum with a tight couple of overs, but they failed to capitalize, conceding a wicket in the process. Tripathi then took matters into his own hands, unleashing a barrage of stunning shots to shift the balance of the match in SRH's favor.
With 47 needed off 36, the dynamic duo of Markram and Tripathi went on the offensive, hitting Mohit for three fours and a six to bring the equation down to 26 off 30. From there, it was a breeze, with Markram hitting four fours to Ellis, before Tripathi finished things off with another boundary to secure a well-deserved victory.
In the end, Tripathi remained unbeaten on 74 off 48 balls, while Markram finished not out on 37 off 21 balls, as the pair put on a match-winning partnership of 100 runs off just 52 balls.
The match was an absolute thriller, with both teams giving it their all. But in the end, it was SRH who emerged victorious, leaving the PBKS players and fans stunned.