Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma etched their names in the annals of IPL history with a sensational unbeaten opening partnership of 167 runs against Lucknow Super Giants at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Their relentless onslaught propelled Sunrisers Hyderabad towards a resounding 10-wicket victory, achieved with a staggering 9.4 overs to spare.
The Hyderabad-based franchise’s dominant display not only secured a crucial win but also significantly bolstered their net run rate (NRR), catapulting them to third place on the points table with seven wins.
Head and Abhishek set the stage on fire with a scintillating 107-run partnership during the powerplay, marking only the fourth instance in IPL history where a team breached the 100-run mark in the first six overs. Remarkably, Sunrisers Hyderabad became the first team to achieve this feat twice in IPL history.
This remarkable feat follows their earlier performance this season against Delhi Capitals, where they amassed 125 runs without losing their wickets in the powerplay. The duo’s aggressive approach saw them join an elite group alongside Sunil Narine and Chris Lynn, who amassed 106 runs in six overs against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2017 IPL.
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s ferocious batting display saw them set a new record for the highest run tally in the first 10 overs of an IPL match, reaching 150 runs in just 8.2 overs, marking the quickest milestone in T20 cricket history.
Head’s blistering half-century off just 16 balls made him only the second player in IPL history to achieve three 50+ scores in less than 20 balls. Abhishek Sharma wasn’t far behind, reaching his milestone in just 19 balls. Head concluded the innings with an unbeaten 30-ball 89, while Sharma contributed with a rapid-fire 28-ball 78, solidifying their status as a formidable opening pair in the IPL.
