KATHMANDU: In a nail-biting encounter at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) emerged victorious over Punjab Kings (PBKS) by a slim margin of two runs.

The match, packed with pulsating action, showcased a splendid display of skill and determination from both sides.

Opting to field after winning the toss, PBKS started strong by claiming the early wickets of Travis Head, Aiden Markram, and Abhishek Sharma within the Powerplay.

However, luck seemed to favor Head initially, surviving a close call for a caught behind off the bowling of Rabada. Despite the early setbacks, SRH found resilience through Nitish Kumar Reddy’s outstanding knock of 64 runs off just 37 balls, which included four fours and five sixes.

Reddy’s partnership with Abdul Samad, who contributed a quickfire 25 off 12 balls, proved instrumental in steering SRH to a competitive total of 182/9, after a shaky start at 39/3. Their blistering 50-run stand off just 20 balls provided the much-needed impetus to SRH’s innings.

In response, PBKS faced early setbacks, losing three crucial wickets within the Powerplay, including that of their captain Shikhar Dhawan. Despite the setbacks, a valiant effort from Shashank Singh (46* off 25) and Ashutosh Sharma (33* off 15) threatened SRH’s stronghold in the match.

With 29 runs required off the final over, the match reached its climax as Jaydev Unadkat held his nerve amidst a flurry of boundaries from the PBKS batsmen.

Despite a late surge, PBKS fell agonizingly short of the target, eventually finishing with 180/7 in their allotted overs.

SRH’s bowling attack, led by Pat Cummins and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, showcased remarkable precision in the initial overs, securing crucial breakthroughs to put PBKS under pressure.

Despite a spirited fightback from PBKS in the latter stages of the match, SRH managed to maintain their composure to secure a thrilling victory.

With this hard-fought win, Sunrisers Hyderabad continues to showcase their mettle in the ongoing tournament, while Punjab Kings will look to regroup and bounce back stronger in their upcoming fixtures.