HYDERABAD: Abhishek Sharma smashed his maiden IPL century to lead Sunrisers Hyderabad to the second-highest run chase in the league’s history, as the team overhauled a daunting target of 246 set by Punjab Kings in just 18.3 overs on Saturday.
The opener played a scintillating knock of 141, anchoring the chase with a commanding presence at the crease. His 171-run partnership with Travis Head, who added 67 runs, laid the foundation for Hyderabad’s historic win in the second match of the day.
Despite Harshal Patel picking up four wickets, the Punjab bowlers were unable to contain the onslaught. Earlier in the day, Punjab Kings had elected to bat first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, where captain Shreyas Iyer powered the innings with 82 runs, taking the team to a formidable 245.
Interestingly, the only higher successful run chase in IPL history was also against a side led by Iyer—when Punjab Kings chased down 262 against Kolkata Knight Riders last year. With this feat, Abhishek Sharma and Sunrisers Hyderabad now hold a special place in IPL’s record books.
