IPL 2025: Iyer's Explosive 82 and Stoinis' Clutch Finish Propel PBKS to 245 Against SRH

Hyderabad, April 12 (NationPress) Punjab Kings launched a fierce offensive against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Match 27 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, propelled by a remarkable half-century from Shreyas Iyer (82) and a breathtaking finale from Marcus Stoinis, who added 34 runs in just 11 deliveries, leading to a total of 245/6 in 20 overs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

The innings featured contributions from various players, but it was Iyer's strategic aggression that truly shone, providing PBKS with a solid foundation for an imposing score.

Stoinis made a significant impact in IPL 2025 with a spectacular finish, launching four consecutive sixes to cap off Punjab Kings' innings in dramatic style. The Australian all-rounder, who had faced challenges earlier in the season, ignited the crowd in the final over, lifting PBKS to a formidable total of 245.

Unfortunately for Mohammed Shami, it was a forgettable evening as the seasoned bowler faced the brunt of Stoinis' assault. Shami's last over yielded 27 runs, concluding a tough outing that resulted in figures of 4-0-75-0, marking it as the second most expensive spell in IPL history.

Opting to bat, PBKS came out swinging from the very first over. Prabhsimran Singh set the pace with a series of boundaries off Mohammed Shami, aggressively taking on the veteran seamer and dispatching the ball through mid-off and cover with ease. He ensured a flying start for PBKS.

Next up was the emerging talent from Delhi’s circuit, Priyansh Arya, who wasted no time making an impression. On his very first delivery from Shami, Arya struck a six straight down the ground, followed by another over covers. His impressive hand-eye coordination allowed him to reach 50 runs in just 18 balls, matching the season’s fastest team fifty.

However, Arya's aggressive stint was brief. Shami adjusted with a clever cutter, leading Arya to misfire and find Nitish Reddy at mid-off, resulting in PBKS' first wicket falling for 66 in the fourth over.

Prabhsimran continued to dominate, but his fortune ran out soon after being dropped at extra cover. Eshan Malinga, in his IPL debut, bowled a perfectly disguised slower ball to dismiss Prabhsimran for 42, showcasing his ability to vary pace effectively.

The middle overs were relatively quiet with Zeeshan Ansari bowling two economical overs, but Shreyas Iyer quickly shifted gears. He launched a six with a powerful swing over long-off and reverse-swept a full toss for four. Despite a dropped catch at long-off by Abhishek Sharma, Iyer raced to a stunning 22-ball half-century, his fastest in IPL history.

The 73-run partnership between Iyer and Nehal Wadhera (27 off 22) threatened to push the total beyond 250 before Malinga returned to claim a crucial wicket, trapping Wadhera lbw with a fast, full delivery that curled in late. Although Wadhera didn't review, replays indicated he would have survived as the ball was missing off stump.

Glenn Maxwell's promotion in the batting order didn’t yield results either. He struggled against Zeeshan’s leg spin and was dismissed by Harshal Patel while attempting to sweep, reminiscent of earlier decisions regarding Maxwell’s batting position. He fell for just 2 runs off 5 balls.

Harshal Patel then delivered a pivotal over in the 18th, conceding only five runs and claiming the wickets of both Iyer and Maxwell in quick succession. Iyer’s 82 off 36 had anchored PBKS’ innings, but his exit necessitated a rebuild in the closing overs, which Stoinis executed flawlessly.

Brief scores: Punjab Kings 245/6 in 20 overs (Shreyas Iyer 82, Prabhsimran Singh 42, Marcus Stoinis 34 not out; Harshal Patel 4-42, Eshan Malinga 2-45) against Sunrisers Hyderabad