Hyderabad, April 12 (NationPress) In a match that will be remembered as a historic moment in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Sunrisers Hyderabad achieved the second-highest successful run chase in IPL history by successfully chasing down an impressive 246 runs against Punjab Kings, winning by eight wickets at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Saturday.

The key figures in this astonishing victory were the dynamic Abhishek Sharma, who smashed a personal best of 141 runs off 55 balls, and the reliable Travis Head, whose strategic aggression complemented the explosive batting from Sharma. The clash between SRH and PBKS had promised excitement, but few anticipated the magnitude of the fireworks that unfolded.

After being asked to bat first, Punjab Kings set a daunting target with a score of 245/6, driven by Shreyas Iyer’s impressive 82 and a blistering finish from Marcus Stoinis, who smashed four consecutive sixes in the final over to finish unbeaten on 34 off just 11 balls. The pitch had shifted back to a batting-friendly nature after a brief stint of turn during the previous match against the Gujarat Titans. It was clear from the opening over of the second innings that bowlers would struggle on this surface.

The SRH opening duo of Abhishek and Head started with aggression, though Prabhsimran Singh’s early boundaries in the first innings set the stage for an evening filled with batting dominance. What followed in SRH’s chase was truly remarkable.

Abhishek, who had not hit a six in the tournament prior to this match, began his innings in spectacular fashion. Confronting Marco Jansen, he launched three consecutive boundaries followed by an effortless six off Yash Thakur — a shot that was soon followed by a stroke of luck as he was caught off a no-ball and then smashed the free hit out of the ground. The aggressive display was relentless.

Meanwhile, Head served as the calm counterbalance to Abhishek’s enthusiasm. While Abhishek flicked, pulled, and launched deliveries over the ropes with ease, Head anchored the innings from the opposite end, skillfully finding gaps, rotating the strike, and occasionally punishing the wayward deliveries. The pair achieved their 100-run partnership before the halfway mark, and by the time Head departed for a smooth 66, the match had firmly tilted in favor of Hyderabad.

Abhishek’s century not only marked his first in the IPL but also came off just 40 deliveries, making it the fifth-fastest in the tournament's history. As he lifted his bat and revealed a folded piece of white paper containing the message “This one is for the Orange Army,” the stadium erupted in cheers. It was an innings that not only secured a victory but also energized an entire season.

Earlier, PBKS had demonstrated their batting prowess. Shreyas Iyer’s 82 off 36 balls was the backbone of their innings, stitched together with ferocity and finesse. Nehal Wadhera played a vital supporting role, while Stoinis’s explosive finish pushed them to a total that, in most contexts, would have seemed insurmountable.

Harshal Patel was the only SRH bowler to emerge with respectable figures, recording 4 for 42 in an otherwise disappointing bowling performance.

However, SRH’s response made Punjab’s fireworks appear as mere warm-up exercises. It wasn’t just a chase — it was a declaration of intent. A team that had suffered four consecutive losses took the field with renewed confidence and left with their names etched in the record books.

Abhishek Sharma’s innings will be remembered as one of the most exceptional performances by an Indian batter in the IPL. His score surpassed KL Rahul’s 132 to become the highest individual score by an Indian in the tournament's history. It also lifted Sunrisers from a period of inconsistency and instilled belief in a squad that had been desperate for a spark.

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) lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad 247/2 in 18.3 overs (Abhishek Sharma 141, Travis Head 66; Arshdeep Singh 1-37, Yuzvendra Chahal 1-56) by eight wickets.