Hyderabad soar to top of table with 33-run victory over Punjab

South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen smacked 69 to help Sunrisers Hyderabad climb to the top of the IPL table with a convincing 33-run win over Punjab Kings on Wednesday.

Klaasen put on key stands including a 88-run partnership with Ishan Kishan, who made 55, to guide Hyderabad to 235-4 at their home Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

Klaasen and Kishan built on the blazing start by openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, the pair putting on 54 runs from 21 balls.

Abhishek struck 35 off 13 deliveries and Head hammered a quick 38 to lay the foundation for the commanding total.

Hyderabad’s bowlers restricted Punjab to 202-7 despite a valiant unbeaten 107 by Australia’s Cooper Connolly, who struck his maiden T20 century in his debut IPL season.

Connolly, 22, surpassed Quinton de Kock’s record as the youngest overseas player to score an IPL hundred. South African De Kock was 23 when he made a century for Delhi a decade ago.

Hyderabad skipper Pat Cummins was full of praise for his compatriot.

“Good to see the Aussies doing well. He’s been a star this season with the bat for them. Yeah, not bowling at the moment, but still showing his worth as a batter. So good time for Oz,” said Cummins, who took 2-34 and a pair of catches.

Hyderabad knocked Punjab from top spot and took over first place in the table with 14 points from 11 matches.

Cummins acknowledged the team’s ability to adjust to conditions, especially on a pitch that wasn’t entirely straightforward.

“We’re pretty good at playing at our pace. It’s just trying to max out. We’re not good during the day at home! It gripped a little, which suits our bowlers. We’ve seen it before and we can adjust,” he noted, highlighting SRH’s awareness of strategy.

Punjab, who are eyeing their first title, slipped to second with their third straight defeat but have played one match fewer than 2016 champions Hyderabad.

Missed chances: “We weren’t that comprehensive enough on the field, nor in bowling, nor in batting,” said Punjab skipper Shreyas Iyer.

“So I think they played comprehensive cricket and they showed us how to win the match. We got to go back, reflect on things that we didn’t do well in the last three matches, and see to it that we come back strong.”

Sharp fielding gave Hyderabad the advantage, with secure catching contrasting Punjab’s missed chances. Connolly dropped Kishan on nine and the wicketkeeper-batter survived again on 18 when Lockie Ferguson spilled a chance at backward square-leg.

Kishan lived a charmed life as Prabhsimran Singh missed an easy stumping off Yuzvendra Chahal. Shahshank Singh dropped Klaasen on nine.

The missed opportunities allowed both batters to pass fifty. Klaasen finished strongly in his 43-ball knock before being dismissed on the final ball of the innings.

Klaasen moved to the top of the batting chart with 494 runs in 11 matches. Punjab were never in the chase after pace bowler Cummins dismissed Priyansh Arya for one in the first over and Nitish Kumar Reddy removed Prabhsimran in the next.

Wickets kept tumbling as Marcus Stoinis (28) and Suryansh Shedge (25) had their knocks cut short by Shivang Kumar and Cummins.

Connolly waged a determined lone battle, holding the innings together under pressure, and stitched a fighting 68-run partnership with Marco Jansen (19).

Despite their efforts to steady the chase and rebuild momentum, the stand ultimately proved insufficient, as it could only reduce the margin of defeat for Punjab rather than alter the outcome of the match.

Ahmedabad to host IPL final: The IPL final will be held in Ahmedabad on May 31 instead of Bengaluru as originally planned, the country’s cricket board said on Wednesday.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said the venue was shifted because of “certain requirements” from local authorities and the state association.

Bengaluru was cleared to host five games this IPL season despite a stampede last year outside its main cricket stadium that killed 11 young fans.

Qualifier 1, featuring the top two teams in the standings, will be played on May 26 at Dharamsala, with a direct berth in the final at stake.

Chandigarh will host the Eliminator on May 27 between the third and fourth-placed teams. The same venue will also stage Qualifier 2 on May 29, where the loser of Qualifier 1 will face the winner of the Eliminator to determine the second finalist.

Agencies