Shreyas Iyer (BCCI Photo) NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings put up a record performance in the IPL, becoming the first team in the history of T20 cricket to successfully chase down 200-plus totals 10 times. Their latest venture was 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.
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How Justin Langer’s faith helped Mukul Choudhary shineThe pair stitched together a 99-run opening stand, putting Hyderabad under heavy pressure at the start of the chase.However, the game took a turn when left-arm wrist spinner Shivang Kumar struck with three quick wickets to remove both the openers and Cooper Connolly. At this stage, Punjab needed stability and captain Iyer stepped up. He first anchored the innings and then accelerated brilliantly to reach his fifty in just 24 balls.Iyer found support in Nehal Wadher, with the pair adding 69 runs to get the chase back on track. Even after Wadher’s release, Punjab remained in control. Teams Most Chasing 200+ Targets (IPL)
- 10 – PBKS
- 6 – MI
- 5 – RR
- 4 – SRH
- 4 – RCB
- The next most for any team in men’s T20 is seven in 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 and returned figures of 2/20.Earlier, Sunrisers Hyderabad 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 smashing 74 off just 28 balls, including eight sixes. Head contributed a quick 38 as Hyderabad dominated the early stages.However, Punjab fought back through Shashank Singh, who dismissed both openers in quick succession to slow down the score. While Heinrich Klaasen (39) and Ishan Kishan (27) attempted a revival, Hyderabad kept losing wickets at crucial moments and failed to reach a bigger total.With the win, Punjab Kings remain unbeaten in the tournament, registering their third win in four matches and underlining their growing reputation as one of the most dangerous chasing sides in T20 cricket.
