“Never expected to chase like this”: SRH opener Travis Head after explosive win against LSG

The way Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) star batsman Travis Head chased down the target of 166 runs in 9.4 overs along with his fellow opener Abhishek Sharma in the IPL 2024 match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Rajiv Gandhi International on Wednesday night. , he ‘never expected’. Stadium. Head scored a half-century in 16 balls with some amazing cricket shots and remained unbeaten on 89 runs in just 33 balls to lead his team to victory. He along with his opening pair Abhishek Sharma made an opening partnership of 166 runs and scored 107 runs in the power play compared to LSG’s 27.

“I don’t think we ever expected to chase like that,” Head admitted in the post-match press conference. “It looked like a tough wicket in the first innings, it looked like it was holding and it was a slow pitch. I think, knowing this as a batsman, you know the powerplay is important. ( We) were trying to maximize it and we played beautifully, we were able to get ahead of the rate, which is good and once we got going in the first two or three overs, it was as much of a maximum as possible. It was about trying to do it and I thought we picked our target and played very well,” he said.

SRH destroyed LSG’s challenge by first restricting LSG with the new ball and then chasing down a sensational 166 in just 9.4 overs, the highest score in 10 overs in any T20. In all of T20 cricket, 100 or more has been scored only seven times in the powerplay, with SRH having the two top scores, both in IPL 2024.

“You always want to perform, you always want to be consistent, you always want to try and keep doing your job; that’s not always going to happen in T20 cricket (but) I felt the way we were playing the game. That’s been fantastic. We’ll have ups and downs, we felt good that after coming under pressure batting (first) we were able to chase the score.

“Many times throughout the season we’ve been chasing, we’ve been under pressure. To be able to work tonight, and chase, (feels great). The next two games are going to be at home. Waiting for.” Okay,” said Head.

Head and Abhishek have made three century partnerships in the IPL, two of which came in the powerplay. SRH is the only team with more than one century opening partnership in IPL 2024.

“It’s good to come here and contribute. I wasn’t sure whether I would be able to play or not. It was good to get the opportunity, it was good to perform and the partnership with Abhi has been fantastic. He is an exciting talent for Indian cricket, he is extraordinary.” We complement each other very well and he’s a pleasure to be around, he’s very enthusiastic and passionate about the game, he has a lot of energy, so it’s a great partnership to be involved in,” Head said about the opening match. said in. Before that he said that the middle order has also played an important role for SRH.

“I think the Kings match (against Punjab Kings) is a blueprint for us in the way we are able to go about the game. It won’t always work at the top of the order, we will lose wickets, but we will be there throughout the middle I want to be brave [Reddy] Have played some incredible innings, obviously we have Klassie (Henrik Klaasen) and (Abdul) Samad at the top for us…

“Everyone is full of confidence, everyone is playing well, we are not dependent on the top order. Yes we are playing well but I don’t think that defines the team. I think we really have a There is a strong middle order…we are in a very good position at the moment,” he concluded.

SRH will next face Gujarat Titans on May 16 and will conclude the league stage against Punjab Kings at home on May 19.

–IANS

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