The 30th match of the 2024 IPL season between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will forever be etched in the history books. Played on April 15th at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, this encounter witnessed a record-breaking display of batting prowess, culminating in the highest-scoring T20 match ever played.
Sunrisers Hyderabad Bat First and Set a Mammoth Target
SRH captain Kane Williamson opted to bat first after winning the toss. The decision proved to be a masterstroke as their openers, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, got off to a flying start. Head, in particular, was in sublime touch, scoring a magnificent century (114 runs off 65 balls) laced with 12 fours and 6 sixes.
Heinrich Klaasen provided valuable support with a blistering knock of 67 runs off just 34 deliveries. The duo stitched together a crucial 184-run partnership for the second wicket, laying a solid foundation for a mammoth total.
In the death overs, Nicholas Pooran added a quickfire 32 (18 balls) to propel SRH to a staggering total of 287/3 – their highest-ever IPL score and the highest total ever set in a T20 match.
RCB Put Up a Gallant Fight but Fall Short
Chasing a record-breaking target, RCB needed a special effort from their batsmen. Openers Faf du Plessis (43 runs) and Virat Kohli (37 runs) provided a decent start, but wickets began to fall at regular intervals.
The experienced Dinesh Karthik, however, held his fort at one end. He played a brilliant knock of 83 runs off 45 balls, including 5 fours and 7 sixes, keeping RCB’s hopes alive. Shahbaz Ahmed chipped in with a valuable 32 (21 balls) but wickets continued to tumble at the other end.
Despite a valiant effort, RCB fell short by 25 runs, ending their innings at 262/7. Pat Cummins was the pick of the SRH bowlers, scalping 3 wickets for 34 runs in his four overs.
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A Night of Records
The RCB vs SRH match was a night of several firsts:
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Highest T20 Total: The combined score of 549 runs (287+262) is the highest ever recorded in a T20 match.
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Highest Score by SRH: SRH’s score of 287/3 surpassed their previous record of 230/4 set in 2023.
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Highest Losing Score in T20: Despite scoring a mammoth 262 runs, RCB ended up on the losing side.
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Joint-Most Sixes in a T20: A total of 38 sixes were hit in the match, equaling the record set in the CPL match between Guyana Amazon Warriors and Barbados Tridents in 2017.
Impact on the Tournament
This high-scoring encounter has thrown the IPL 2024 wide open. While SRH climbed to the top of the points table with this win, RCB suffered a setback in their playoff race. Both teams will need to analyze their performances and regroup for their upcoming matches.
Player of the Match: Travis Head
For his match-winning century, Travis Head was deservedly awarded the Player of the Match trophy. His knock provided the foundation for SRH’s massive total and set the tone for a record-breaking encounter.
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Conclusion
The RCB vs SRH match will be remembered for a long time to come. It showcased the power and explosiveness of modern-day T20 batting and provided entertainment for cricket fans worldwide. With the IPL season still in its prime, one can only expect more exciting matches and record-breaking performances in the days to come.
