Shami sizzles, Pant dazzles in their 5-wicket win over SRH

Hyderabad: Mohammed Shami asked probing questions not only to Sunrisers Hyderabad batters but also to the national selection committee with a spell for the ages, while skipper Rishabh Pant delivered under pressure to steer Lucknow Super Giants to a thrilling five-wicket win in an IPL clash on Sunday.

Shami was outstanding with the new ball, bowling 18 dot deliveries and returning 2 for 9 in four overs as SRH were restricted to 156 for 9. His variations proved decisive on a sluggish surface.

LSG’s chase was built around Aiden Markram’s brisk 45 off 27 balls and Pant’s unbeaten 68 off 50 deliveries. The equation tightened towards the end, with nine needed off the final over, but Pant sealed the contest in style with successive boundaries off Jaydev Unadkat, including a tennis-like forehand slap followed by a lofted hit over mid-off.

Earlier, Shami set the tone by removing Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head off successive deliveries across two overs, both undone by slower balls. Prince Yadav (2/34) provided strong support, dismissing Ishan Kishan with a sharp delivery.

SRH, reeling at 26 for 4, were revived by Heinrich Klaasen (62 off 41) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (56 off 33), who stitched a 116-run stand for the fifth wicket, adding 79 runs between overs 11 and 15.

However, LSG hit back strongly at the death, triggering a collapse of five wickets for 14 runs in 2.2 overs to regain control and ultimately seal a hard-fought victory.