SRH vs RR IPL 2023: RR pick huge win, beat SRH by 72 runs

Match 4 of IPL 2023 between SunRisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals from the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad ended up with RR claiming a massive win beating SRH by 72 runs after piling up 203 in their allotted 20 overs, courtesy of a blitzkrieg of a start by Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler.

RR beat SRH by 72 runs. SRH 131/8 (20 overs) chasing 203:SRH fell like a pack of cards as RR outplayed them in Match 4 of IPL played at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday. Rajasthan Royals thus made a rousing start to the IPL-16, thrashing Sunrisers Hyderabad by 72 runs.

Put into bat, last season's runners-up RR got off to a flier with T20 World Cup-winning England skipper Jos Buttler smacking 54 off 22 balls (7x4, 3x6). Promising uncapped Indian Yashasvi Jaiswal made an identical 54 (37b; 9x4), while skipper Sanju Samson top-scored with 55 (32b; 3x4, 4x6) as RR posted the season's highest total of 203 for 5. In reply, the home side managed 131 for 8 in the stipulated 20 overs.

For Sunrisers Hyderabad, T Natarajan (3-0-23-2) was the pick of the bowler and dragged the Royals back in a tidy penultimate over where he dismissed Samson and gave away just seven runs. Left-arm Afghan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi returned with 2 for 41 from his four overs. In reply, the home side lost two wickets without opening the account with Trent Boult inflicting the double blow in the first over en route his splendid figures of 4-1-21-2.

Thereafter, Indian wrist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal made hay in his 4-0-17-4 to have them reeling at 95 for 8. Just when they looked to fold inside 100 runs, the Jammu and Kashmir duo of Adul Samad (32 not out; 32b) and Umran Malik (19 not out; 8b) produced some late fireworks to take them to a respectable 131 for 8.

Brief Scores:
Rajasthan Royals:203 for 5 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 55, Yashasvi Jaiswal 54, Jos Buttler 54; T Natarajan 2/23, Fazalhaq Farooqi 2/41) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad: 131 for 8 in 20 overs (Abdul Samad 32 not out; Yuzvendra Chahal 4/17, Trent Boult 2/21) by 72 runs.

Watch Trent Boult 'thunderbolts' as he delivered a double-wicket maiden

RR inning report

Earlier, Quick half-centuries from openers Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal and skipper Sanju Samson powered Rajasthan Royals (RR) to a massive score of 203/5 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match at Hyderabad on Sunday. After being put to bat first by Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals openers Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal provided an explosive start to their side. Jaiswal started on a solid note, smashing three fours in the first two overs.

The next two overs bowled by skipper Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Washington Sundar went expensive. Buttler-Jaiswal smashed 17 runs and 19 runs respectively in both overs. The Royals crossed the 50-run mark in just 3.4 overs. Buttler continued from where he left in the previous season as he brought up his half-century in just 20 balls. His knock consisted of six fours and three sixes.

After being smashed for three fours in the sixth over, Fazalhaq Farooqi got better off Buttler as he cleans him up for 54 off 22 balls, his knock consisted of seven fours and three sixes. RR was 85/1 in 5.5 overs. At the end of the powerplay, RR scored 85/1 with Yashasvi Jaiswal (30*) joined by skipper Sanju Samson (0*).

Skipper Sanju Samson was next up on the crease and he continued from where Buttler left off. He smashed Umran Malik for two fours in the eighth over, helping RR cross the 100-run mark in just 7.4 overs. At the end of 10 overs, RR was at 122/1, with Samson (21*) and Jaiswal (46*) unbeaten. Jaiswal raced to his 50 in just 34 balls. His knock consists of eight fours.

The duo of Samson-Jaiswal brought up the 50-run stand in just 36 balls. Farooqi got his second scalp. He dismissed Jaiswal for 54 off 37 balls, consisting of nine fours. Mayank Agarwal took a fine catch at the deep midwicket. RR was 139/2 in 12.3 overs. The 54-run stand between Samson-Jaiswal came to an end. Devdutt Paddikal was next up on the crease. RR touched the 150-run mark in 13.5 overs. Been expensive so far, the 'Jammu Express' Umran Malik struck as he uprooted Paddikal's off stump, sending him back for just two runs.

RR was 151/3 in 14.1 overs. At the end of 15 overs, RR was 160/3. Riyan Parag's stay at the crease was also shortlived as he could make only seven runs in six balls. He was caught by Fazalhaq at the short third man. Samson brought up his half-century in just 28 balls. Natrajan got his second wicket as he put an end to Samson's innings at 55 off 32 balls. His knock consisted of three fours and four sixes. RR touched the 200-run mark in 19.5 overs. RR concluded their innings at 203/5 in 20 overs, with Shimron Hetmyer (20*) and Ravichandran Ashwin (1*) unbeaten.

Natrajan was the pick of the bowlers for RR with 2/23. Farooqi took 2/41 in his four overs as well. Umran got one wicket as well. Brief Scores: RR: 203/5 (Sanju Samson 55, Jos Buttler 54, T Natrajan 2/23) vs SRH.

Here is what the two captains had to say before the match:

Sanju Samson (RR): This is a new IPL with new rules. We have to respect our opponents and play to our strengths. Always feel good to wear this jersey, looking forward to playing in Jaipur. (On Sangakkara) We have a good relationship with each other. Discuss things regularly before games. Four foreigners today for us - Buttler, Holder, Boult and Hetmyer

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (SRH): We will bowl first, looks like a good batting wicket. Will take advantage with the chase. (On captaincy) Just the one game this time. I'll try my best and do what is needed for the team. Farooqi, Harry Brook, Adil Rashid, Glenn Phillips are our four foreigners.

Teams:

Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson(w/c), Devdutt Padikkal, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jason Holder, Trent Boult, KM Asif, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (Playing XI): Mayank Agarwal, Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi, Harry Brook, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips(w), Umran Malik, Adil Rashid, Bhuvneshwar Kumar(c), T Natarajan, Fazalhaq Farooqi.