In the IPL 2024 showdown between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Chennai on Sunday, Matheesha Pathirana compounded SRH’s woes with a remarkable performance. CSK’s formidable total of 212/3 initially seemed like a daunting challenge for SRH, but Tushar Deshpande’s three quick wickets during the powerplay shifted the momentum in CSK’s favour.
The concerns persisted for CSK as hard-hitting batters Aiden Markram and Nitish Reddy remained at the crease. Ravindra Jadeja intervened, dismissing Reddy with MS Dhoni’s assistance, who took the catch. Shortly after, Matheesha Pathirana claimed Markram’s wicket in his debut over with a classic yorker that struck the middle stump spot on.
In the 11th over of the SRH innings, Pathirana delivered his signature yorker directly onto the stumps at a speed of 147 kph. Despite Markram’s forceful drive in response, he was completely outplayed as the ball smashed into the middle stump, uprooting it from the ground. Markram departed after scoring 32 runs from 26 balls, becoming the fifth wicket to fall for SRH, leaving the responsibility on Heinrich Klaasen and Abdul Samad.
https://x.com/ipl/status/1784637127369916475?s=46
SRH batters failed to step up
Sunrisers were struggling as Pathirana got another wicket, this time Klaasen. Klaasen, known for hitting big shots, was expected to score quickly for SRH, but Pathirana stopped him early in the 16th over. Klaasen left after scoring 20 runs from 21 balls, with just one six. Pathirana bowled a low full toss, and Klaasen tried to hit it hard, but he didn’t hit it well, and Daryl Mitchell caught it easily at long-on.
After the match, Pat Cummins, SRH Captain said: “(On would he have batted first in hindsight) Not really. We thought it was our best chance to win. They batted well to get to 210 but with thought we were in with a chance with our batting lineup, the pitch was playing well too. We’re pretty happy with how the batting lineup is going. Everyone in that lineup has performed and won us a game at some point in the tournament. It’s definitely dewy now but it was the same in the first innings as well. We’ll bounce back quickly.”
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