By Leighton Levy- Shimron Hetmyer’s explosive cameo of 42 from 23 balls wasn’t enough to rescue Rajasthan Royals, who fell short in a high-octane chase against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday in the Indian Premier League. The West Indies star’s late flurry, including four towering sixes, brought hope to the Royals but couldn’t eclipse a monumental Sunrisers total of 286-6.
Batting first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, Sunrisers posted a record-shattering 286 thanks to Ishan Kishan’s breathtaking unbeaten 106 from just 47 balls. The left-hander peppered the boundary ropes, smashing 11 fours and 6 sixes at a strike rate of 225.53. He shared crucial partnerships—most notably a 72-run stand with Travis Head (67 off 31) and a 56-run blitz alongside Heinrich Klaasen (34 off 14).
Kishan’s carnage was complemented by Travis Head’s 67 off 31 balls and quickfire cameos from Nitish Kumar Reddy (30 off 15) and Klaasen. The Royals bowlers were left reeling, especially Jofra Archer, who endured a torrid outing—his four overs going for 76 runs, the most expensive spell in IPL history.
In reply, Rajasthan Royals showed early promise despite losing three wickets in the powerplay. Sanju Samson (66 off 37) and Dhruv Jurel (70 off 35) forged a 111-run partnership that reignited hopes. But Samson’s dismissal at 161-4 in the 14th over sparked a collapse. Jurel followed shortly after, and although Hetmyer and Shubham Dubey (34* off 11) added a rapid 80 runs, the target proved too steep.
Harshal Patel (2-34) and Simarjeet Singh (2-46) held their nerve in the death overs for Sunrisers, who clinched a 44-run win. Rajasthan ended at 242/6.
The match also highlighted a worrying trend for Rajasthan’s pace spearhead Jofra Archer, whose 76-run spell eclipsed previous records for most runs conceded in a four-over spell in the IPL.
With the win, Sunrisers Hyderabad signalled their intent this season, while Rajasthan Royals will rue the missed opportunity despite several standout batting performances. (Sportsmax)
