Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings delivered a record-breaking performance in the IPL, becoming the first team in T20 cricket history to successfully chase 200-plus totals 10 times. Their latest feat came in a thrilling six-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad, as Shreyas Iyer led from the front with a composed unbeaten 69.Chasing a daunting 220 in Chandigarh, Punjab got off to a flying start thanks to Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh. Arya was particularly explosive, smashing 57 off just 20 balls, while Prabhsimran added 51.
The duo stitched together a 99-run opening stand, putting the pressure firmly on Hyderabad early in the chase.However, the game took a turn when left-arm wrist spinner Shivang Kumar struck back with three quick wickets, removing both openers and Cooper Connolly. At that stage, Punjab needed stability, and skipper Iyer stepped up. He first anchored the innings and then accelerated brilliantly, reaching his fifty in just 24 balls.Iyer found support in Nehal Wadhera, with the pair adding 69 runs to bring the chase back on track. Even after Wadhera’s dismissal, Punjab remained in control. Teams chasing down 200-plus targets most often (IPL)
- 10 – PBKS
- 6 – MI
- 5 – RR
- 4 – SRH
- 4 – RCB
- The next most for any team in Men’s T20s is seven by Australia
Shashank Singh then joined Iyer and calmly finished the job, hitting the winning boundary to seal a memorable victory. Shashank also played a key role earlier with the ball, returning figures of 2/20.Earlier, Sunrisers Hyderabad had posted a massive 219/6, powered by a blistering start from Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head. The pair added 120 runs for the first wicket, with Abhishek hammering 74 off just 28 balls, including eight sixes. Head contributed a quick 38, as Hyderabad dominated the early stages.Punjab, however, fought back through Shashank Singh, who dismissed both openers in quick succession to slow the scoring. While Heinrich Klaasen (39) and Ishan Kishan (27) tried to rebuild, Hyderabad kept losing wickets at crucial moments and fell just short of a bigger total.With this win, Punjab Kings remain unbeaten in the tournament, registering their third victory in four matches and underlining their growing reputation as one of the most dangerous chasing sides in T20 cricket.
