Kolkata, April 2 (NationPress) The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) showcased an impressive performance, driven by explosive innings from Abhishek Sharma (48) and Heinrich Klaasen (52), achieving the highest score of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season with a total of 226/8 in their allotted 20 overs against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens on Thursday.

For KKR, pacer Blessing Muzarabani finished with 4-41, and while the team managed to restrict runs in the closing overs, they faced a daunting challenge needing to chase down the total at a rate of 11.3 runs per over.

Opting to bat first, SRH began with a tremendous start, as Abhishek and Travis Head attacked the new-ball bowlers, who struggled with their length. Head blazed through with 46 runs off just 21 balls, striking six fours and three sixes, while Abhishek delivered 48 runs off 21 balls, which included four fours and four sixes. The duo put together a rapid 82-run partnership in less than five overs, setting the stage for a monumental total.

Following Head's dismissal at the hands of Kartik Tyagi, Muzarabani made significant inroads for KKR by taking two quick wickets in the eighth over, dismissing Abhishek and the aggressive Ishan Kishan. Although Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy were costly, Anukul Roy managed to secure a wicket, dismissing Aniket Verma, which left SRH at 118/4 after 9.2 overs.

Klaasen and Nitish Kumar Reddy (39 off 24 balls) stabilized the innings, forming a vital 82-run partnership for the fifth wicket, marking the second-highest in SRH's IPL history for that position. Whenever the bowlers made a mistake, the pair capitalized, with Reddy also receiving a second chance thanks to Chakaravarthy.

Despite Nitish and Salil Arora falling to Vaibhav Arora, Klaasen maintained his focus and reached a fluent half-century—his first of the season. His innings of 52 off 35 balls featured four boundaries and a six, ensuring SRH kept the momentum going despite losing wickets regularly.

Harsh Dubey contributed with a quick cameo, hitting consecutive boundaries off Arora in the 19th over. Muzarabani returned to claim two more wickets in the final over, including Klaasen, achieving his first four-wicket haul in the IPL. Nevertheless, SRH surpassed the 220-run mark on a pitch conducive to strokeplay.

Brief scores:

Sunrisers Hyderabad 226/8 in 20 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 52, Abhishek Sharma 48; Blessing Muzarabani 4-41, Vaibhav Arora 2-47) against Kolkata Knight Riders.