Sunrisers Hyderabad recorded their first victory of the 2023 Indian Premier League season in spectacular fashion, outplaying Punjab Kings with a dominant 8-wicket win on April 9th in Hyderabad. Rahul Tripathi (74*) and Aiden Markram (37*) proved to be the heroes for Sunrisers, forging a 100-run unbeaten partnership to comfortably chase down the target with 17 balls to spare.
The match saw Punjab Kings’ captain Shikhar Dhawan’s valiant 99 not out go in vain as Mayank Markande’s outstanding bowling performance took four wickets, restricting the Kings to a modest total. Tripathi then stole the show, guiding Sunrisers to a much-needed win.
Punjab Kings batted first, but their innings was plagued by the loss of quick wickets. Dhawan expressed his disappointment, saying, “As a batting unit, we lost too many wickets back to back and couldn’t put up a big total on the ground. 175-180 would have been a reasonable score. The wicket looked quite good, but it was seaming and swinging.” He also mentioned the need for improvement and vowed to come back stronger in future games.
Tripathi and Markram’s partnership was a masterclass, keeping the required run rate well in check. Markram showcased his skills with a series of boundaries, while Tripathi played the anchor role, smashing nine fours and three sixes in his unbeaten knock. The duo brought up their 100-run partnership with a square cut behind the point by Tripathi, sealing Sunrisers’ first win of the season.
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bowling attack also deserves praise, with Markande taking four wickets and playing a significant role in limiting Punjab Kings’ total. His performance was reminiscent of his impressive 4/23 at the same ground five years ago while playing for Mumbai Indians.
As the competition in IPL 2023 heats up, fans can look forward to more intense battles between the teams. With no unbeaten sides left after just three rounds of matches, it appears that this could be the most competitive season yet.