SRH crush KKR by 65 runs as Nitish Kumar Reddy stars

Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 65 runs in Match 6 of the Indian Premier League, with Nitish Kumar Reddy producing the standout all-round display. Reddy struck 39 from 24 balls in SRH’s imposing 226/8 and then returned figures of 2/17 in 2 overs, helping shut down KKR for 161 in just 16 overs.

The result extends the early spread of winners in this IPL season rather than creating any outright table dominance. The first six matches have now produced six different winners, after Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals all won the opening five fixtures before Sunrisers Hyderabad joined them with this emphatic victory.

Set 227, Kolkata needed a flying start and got one from Finn Allen, who blasted 28 off just 7 balls with four fours and two sixes. But SRH never let the chase settle. Ajinkya Rahane made 8 from 10, Cameron Green fell for 2 from 2, and despite Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s sparkling 52 off 29 balls and Rinku Singh’s 35 off 25, the required rate remained out of reach.

The key damage came from SRH’s seamers. Jaydev Unadkat’s 3/21 from 3 overs broke the backbone of the chase, while Eshan Malinga’s 2/14 from 2 overs kept KKR under constant pressure. Nitish Kumar Reddy added two wickets of his own, and Harsh Dubey chipped in with 1/17 from 2 overs. KKR’s innings had flashes of intent, particularly when Sunil Narine crashed 12 from 4 balls, but wickets fell too regularly for any sustained assault.

Earlier, SRH’s innings was built on top-order violence and maintained by middle-order control. Travis Head hammered 46 off 21 balls and Abhishek Sharma smashed 48 off 21, giving Hyderabad a ferocious launch. Between them, the openers struck 10 fours and 7 sixes, immediately pushing KKR onto the back foot.

Even after that opening burst, KKR could not wrest momentum back. Ishan Kishan made 14 off 9, then Heinrich Klaasen anchored the middle overs with a polished 52 from 35 balls, mixing four fours with a six. Reddy’s 39 off 24 kept the tempo high, while Harsh Dubey’s 9 off 3 and Shivang Kumar’s 4 off 2 ensured a strong finish as SRH reached 226/8.

Blessing Muzarabani was the most effective KKR bowler on the figures, taking 4/41 from 4 overs and repeatedly striking amid the carnage. Vaibhav Arora picked up 2/47, while Anukul Roy claimed 1/16 from 2 overs and Kartik Tyagi took 1/48. But Sunil Narine went wicketless for 39 in 4 overs, and Varun Chakravarthy’s 2 overs cost 31 as SRH’s hitters kept attacking spin as well as pace.

This was a match shaped by phases rather than one isolated burst. SRH won the powerplay exchange with the bat, resisted any mid-innings slowdown through Klaasen and Reddy, and then struck often enough with the ball to make sure KKR’s counterpunch never became a genuine threat. Raghuvanshi’s half-century gave the home side some hope, but each promising stand was interrupted before it could turn into a match-defining partnership.

There was also a wider context to the performances. Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen came into the match among the tournament’s form batters, and both enhanced that reputation with 48 off 21 and 52 off 35 respectively. With the ball, Unadkat and Malinga again underlined why they have been among SRH’s most productive wicket-takers this season.

Key performers

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Heinrich Klaasen 52 (35), Abhishek Sharma 48 (21), Travis Head 46 (21), Nitish Kumar Reddy 39 (24) and 2/17 (2), Jaydev Unadkat 3/21 (3), Eshan Malinga 2/14 (2).

Kolkata Knight Riders: Angkrish Raghuvanshi 52 (29), Rinku Singh 35 (25), Finn Allen 28 (7), Blessing Muzarabani 4/41 (4).

NerdSports Stat: KKR were asked to score at 11.35 runs an over from ball one, yet still had three batters strike above 140 — and still lost by 65 runs after being bowled out with four overs unused.

Sunrisers Hyderabad now carry momentum into another quick turnaround, with their next match coming on Sunday, April 5 against Lucknow Super Giants. Kolkata Knight Riders next play on Monday, April 6 against Punjab Kings. Before that, Match 7 of the season sees Chennai Super Kings take on Punjab Kings on Friday, April 3.

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