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- SRH vs KKR highlights, IPL 2025: Heinrich Klaasen shines as Sunrisers Hyderabad thrash Kolkata Knight Riders by 110 runs
SRH vs KKR highlights, IPL 2025: Heinrich Klaasen shines as Sunrisers Hyderabad thrash Kolkata Knight Riders by 110 runs
With a cacophony of cheers for the Orange Army in the decent crowd, Heinrich Klaasen stole the show by smashing an unbeaten 105 off just 39 balls and propelled SRH to the third-highest score in IPL’s history. Klaasen’s astounding century came in just 37 balls- the joint-third fastest hundred in IPL history.
His amazing innings included seven fours and nine sixes, coming at a strike rate of 269.23. Klaasen made his promotion to number three count by unleashing his prowess in consistently playing shots straight down the ground while punishing anything short by pulling with immaculate ease.
While hitting his second IPL hundred, Klaasen received strong support from Travis Head, who hit a brilliant 76 off 40 balls—his third IPL 2025 fifty, including six fours and six sixes. Cameos from Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Aniket Verma further boosted SRH as they scored 74 runs in the last five overs.
KKR had to attack from the word go to have a crack at chasing 279. But three-fers from Eshan Malinga and Harsh Dubey, along with Jaydev Undakat’s early strikes, contributed to them getting bowled out for 168 in 18.4 overs, as SRH jumped to sixth place in the points table.
KKR’s disastrous evening began with a bowling performance which was utterly forgettable and inconsistent - their pacers and spinners were hammered by SRH’s aggressive batters, who plundered runs freely throughout the innings on wayward lengths, even in the middle overs.
Throughout the evening, their bowling was consistently too short or too full, a faulty strategy that significantly reduced their penetration with the ball, leaving SRH in a prime position to conclude their season with a big victory.
Chasing 279 was always going to be an uphill task, but Sunil Narine was off the blocks from the word go by smacking three sixes and a four off Pat Cummins' first two overs, while collecting two edgy boundaries off Jaydev Unadkat. But left-arm pacer Unadkat brought out a slower ball to go past Narine and hit his leg stump, as the batter fell for a 16-ball 31.
Ajinkya Rahane hit three boundaries before miscuing an off-cutter off Unadkat and was caught by cover. Two overs later, Quinton de Kock's struggle ended at a 13-ball nine as he holed out to deep mid-wicket off a full toss from Malinga.
With the Delhi pitch being traditionally better for spinners, left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey struck on back-to-back deliveries - Rinku Singh holed out to deep mid-wicket, while Andre Russell was trapped plumb lbw by a delivery which turned enough to beat his outside edge.
Despite some boundaries from Manish Pandey and Angkrish Raghuvanshi, KKR’s freefall continued as the latter pulled to deep square leg off Malinga, while Dubey foxed Ramandeep Singh with a quicker delivery spinning in to hit the stumps.
KKR were saved from suffering one of the worst defeats in IPL by some belligerent hitting from Pandey and Harshit Rana. While Rana hit three sixes in his first seven balls, Pandey brought out some clean-hitting strokes before falling to Unadkat, while Malinga took Rana’s catch on the second attempt to ensure SRH ended the season on a powerful note.
Eshan Malinga to Quinton de Kock, Yorker on leg, Quinton de Kock looks to loft it over mid-wicket but he doesn't get any bat on it as the ball hits his front pad and goes into the off side.
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi 4 (3)
- Quinton de Kock 8 (9)
Jaydev Unadkat to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Beats the bat to end the over! On a back of a length and takes pace off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi premeditates as he comes down the track. Tries to adjust to the length by opening the bat face and steering it down but misses on the outside edge.
Jaydev Unadkat to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Slower and fuller, on off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi eases it to cover.
Jaydev Unadkat to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, FOUR! Angkrish Raghuvanshi is up and running! Pace on with a slip in place. Not that bad a ball, just short of a length, on off, Angkrish plays it on the up and hits it between cover and mid off for a boundary.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi is the new batter at 4 for KKR as the Impact Sub. He is swapped in for Varun Chakaravarthy.
Jaydev Unadkat to Ajinkya Rahane, OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Wickets off successive overs for Jaydev Unadkat! Off-pace delivery, going away from the batter with the angle, on a nagging length. Ajinkya Rahane does not pick the change of pace and swings to go across the line. Swings early and a leading edge is induced. It goes straight up towards cover where Abhishek Sharma settles under it and does the rest. Jinx departs for 15 (8) and the Knight Riders are 55/2.
Jaydev Unadkat to Ajinkya Rahane, FOUR! Threads it through! A bit too full from Jaydev Unadkat, angling across, Ajinkya Rahane makes use of the angle and splits the gap between cover and point for a boundary.
Jaydev Unadkat to Quinton de Kock, Into the wicket, slower one, Quinton de Kock pulls it through mid-wicket for a single.
Double change? Nope. Jaydev Unadkat (2-0-13-1) to bowl the last over of the Powerplay.
- Ajinkya Rahane 11 (6)
- Quinton de Kock 7 (8)
Harshal Patel to Ajinkya Rahane, Direct hit missed! But have SRH managed to trap Ajinkya Rahane in front of the stumps? LBW not given but Pat Cummins has taken the review. On a back of a length, off-pace delivery, on off, Rahane stays back and goes across the line. He gets beaten on the inside edge. The ball hits him high on the thigh and it rolls towards point. UltraEdge shows no bat but the Ball Tracking shows that the ball is going over the stumps. Coming to the run out chance, Ajinkya had set off for the run before being sent back. He had given up but the fielder failed to knock the stumps down at the batting end.
Harshal Patel to Ajinkya Rahane, HALF A CHANCE! Did Pat Cummins manage to lay a hand on it? Another slower one from Harshal, on a nagging length, on off, Ajinkya Rahane is early into the shot as he looks to go down the ground. Skies it straight up over mid off and Pat Cummins turns around and goes after it. He stretches his hands out in front but the ball falls out of his reach in the deep as it keeps swirling until the last moment. Two runs taken.
Harshal Patel to Ajinkya Rahane, FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries for the KKR skipper! Off-cutter from Harshal, on a good length, on off, Rahane swings across and heaves it to the left of deep square leg for four more.
Harshal Patel to Ajinkya Rahane, FOUR! Cracked away! On a short of a length by Harshal Patel, but he errs in line. Offers width on off, Ajinkya Rahane stands tall and thumps it over cover for a boundary.
Harshal Patel to Quinton de Kock, On a back of a length, on off, Quinton de Kock punches it to mid off.
Harshal Patel to Quinton de Kock, On off, on a nagging length, Quinton de Kock dabs it towards backward point. Ajinkya Rahane wants to sneak in a quick single but QDK sends him back quickly.
Harshal Patel replaces Pat Cummins.
- Ajinkya Rahane 1 (2)
- Quinton de Kock 6 (6)
Jaydev Unadkat to Ajinkya Rahane, On a length, around leg, Ajinkya Rahane backs away to swipe it away on the leg side. Gets it off the inner half towards mid-wicket.
Jaydev Unadkat to Quinton de Kock, Risky single! Off-cutter, on a length, Quinton de Kock taps it beside the pitch on the off side and is off for a quick single. Jaydev Unadkat gets to the ball quickly and flicks it with his left hand towards the stumps at the batting end. Wow, the replays show that Rahane was a goner had the throw hit. Jaydev looked to be in some discomfort as his right shoulder made contact with the turf while diving, but he is fine to resume.
Jaydev Unadkat to Ajinkya Rahane, Angling across, on a length, Ajinkya Rahane knocks it in front of mid off and takes a quick single to get off the mark.
Skipper Ajinkya Rahane is in at 3 for KKR.
Jaydev Unadkat to Sunil Narine, OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! Jaydev Unadkat gets his man! A well-disguised slower from Jaydev as he rolls the fingers over the ball, on a length, at the stumps from over the wicket, Sunil Narine backs away a bit and has a hoick across the line. He is early into the shot and the ball sneaks under the horizontal blade to hit the leg stump. The 37-run opening stand is broken, in which Sunil Narine scored 31 (16). So, no fifty-plus opening partnership for KKR this season.
Jaydev Unadkat to Sunil Narine, FOUR! Nowhere close to where Sunil Narine tried to hit, but he will take it! Full and straight, at the stumps, Sunil Narine looks to swipe it away but is late on the shot. Gets an outside edge that races away to the right of short third for a boundary.
Jaydev Unadkat to Quinton de Kock, Low full toss, sliding onto the pads, Quinton de Kock bunts it in the vacant mid-wicket region for a single.
- Sunil Narine 27 (14)
- Quinton de Kock 4 (4)
Pat Cummins to Sunil Narine, FOUR! Up and over! Low full toss but the line this time is closer to the batter. Sunil Narine manages to make contact and slices it over point for a boundary.
Pat Cummins to Sunil Narine, Nicely bowled! Changes the angle of attack does Pat as he comes from around the wicket. Sunil Narine gives himself too much room too early. Pat nails the wide yorker and it sneaks just inside the tramline.
Pat Cummins to Sunil Narine, Wide! An off-cutter from Cummins, bowled into the wicket, Sunil Narine lets it be. Wide called for height. Pat Cummins looks at the keeper, Ishan Kishan but they decide against the review.
Pat Cummins to Sunil Narine, Goes a lot fuller and just outside the off stump, Sunil Narine crouches to squeeze it away but misses.
Pat Cummins to Sunil Narine, SIX! Ungainly but effective! On a back of a length, following the batter, Sunil Narine is a bit hurried in the shot and does not get it from the middle of the bat, but it is enough to clear the deep square leg fence.
Pat Cummins to Sunil Narine, Going across the left-hander from over the wicket, on a length, Sunil Narine looks to go through the off side but gets it right off the toe end and the ball dribbles towards extra cover.
Pat Cummins to Quinton de Kock, On off, on a length, swatted away to deep backward square leg for a single.
- Sunil Narine 17 (9)
- Quinton de Kock 3 (3)
Jaydev Unadkat to Sunil Narine, Another slower one but this is a bit full, on middle and leg, Sunil Narine swings for the hills but gets beaten on the inside edge.
Jaydev Unadkat to Sunil Narine, Dug in short but this is the slower one, over middle, Sunil Narine sways away and lets it be.
Jaydev Unadkat to Quinton de Kock, This is on a back of a length, on middle, Quinton de Kock tucks it in front of mid-wicket for a single.
Jaydev Unadkat to Sunil Narine, Low full toss, seemed to be the off-pace ball, at the stumps, Sunil Narine chips it back over the bowler's head to the left of mid off for one.
Jaydev Unadkat to Sunil Narine, FOUR! Streaky but they all count! On the fuller side, on off, Sunil Narine stays leg side of the ball and swings to go back over the bowler's head. Gets a thickish outside edge that sails over short third for a boundary.
Jaydev Unadkat to Quinton de Kock, Jaydev Unadkat is on the money! On a good length, on the off stump, QDK dabs it down in front of cover for a single.
Jaydev Unadkat to operate from the far end.
- Sunil Narine 12 (5)
- Quinton de Kock 1 (1)
Pat Cummins to Sunil Narine, SIX! Astonishing shot! Pat spots Narine backing away, and he follows him, but he still gets the shot away. On a nagging length, Narine picks it up nicely and sends it over mid-wicket for another flat six.
Pat Cummins to Sunil Narine, Varies the length by bowling it on a shortish length, on off, Sunil Narine swings for the pull but the ball kicks up a bit and goes over the blade.
Pat Cummins to Sunil Narine, Gets it right up there and tucks the batter up for room. Sunil Narine squeezes it out and inside edges onto the pads.
Pat Cummins to Sunil Narine, Swing and a miss! Drags the length back and keeps it around middle, Sunil Narine stays back and has a swipe across the line but fails to lay any bat on it.
Pat Cummins to Sunil Narine, SIX! Sunil Narine is away! Pitched up, attacking the stumps, Narine gets his front leg out of the way and tonks it back over the bowler's head for a flat six.
Pat Cummins to Quinton de Kock, Starts on a hard length, on middle and leg, Quinton de Kock hops and tucks it behind square on the leg side for a single to get off the mark.
Welcome back for KKR's reply with the bat. The umpires walk out to the centre and Pat Cummins leads his troops out as the Sunrisers spread to their respective fielding positions. Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine are out as the openers for Kolkata Knight Riders. Pat Cummins, the skipper, will kick off the proceedings for SRH. Off we go...
... THE RUN CHASE ...
Well then, KKR have an Everest to climb. Of course, when a team has such an enormous total to chase, the backs are against the wall. Meanwhile, SRH’s bowlers will look to mirror the authority their batters stamped earlier and end their season flying high. For Kolkata Knight Riders, as per the on-air commentators, they are the only team without a single 50-plus opening stand this season. A strong start is all what they will expect this time. Back in a bit with the run chase.
The Knight Riders’ bowlers had a night to forget, struggling from the very first over as their lines and lengths wavered. The long 18-day break may have played a role, but whatever the reason, they never quite found their rhythm. Batters feasted on every loose delivery, sending the ball to all corners. Yet, amidst the chaos, one man stood firm, Sunil Narine. When others faltered, he delivered once again, trying to bring control with a couple of wickets. Meanwhile, Vaibhav Arora remained as the only bowler with an economy of under 10 runs per over.
Sunrisers Hyderabad's Heinrich Klaasen is up for a quick chat with the broadcasters. He says he is pleased. He feels it’s been a long season of disappointments. Mentions that it feels good to get a reward for the hard work. Adds that he wants to change his life for his family. States that the franchise spends a lot on the players and it's his job to perform. Tells that he didn’t try to hit every ball for six, which has been his wrongdoing this season, is what he feels. He says Narine was bowling well, and hence he had to sort of curb his shots at times. Further adds it’s a team game and that’s why it's important to adjust to the situation and bat accordingly. States that he doesn’t have a preferred spot and just wants to bat at a position where his team would benefit.
At the halfway mark, the Sunrisers were cruising at 139, their sights set on a towering total. But just as the momentum seemed unstoppable, Narine intervened again, breaking the flow and tightening the screws with a couple of quiet overs. Yet, SRH had no plans of slowing down. In the critical 7-15 over stretch, they hammered 125 runs, losing just a single wicket. Kishan, after a measured start, found his rhythm and joined the party. But the real spectacle was Klaasen, who put on an absolute masterclass. He stormed to a breathtaking hundred in just 37 balls, shifting gears effortlessly, with his second fifty coming in a mere 20 deliveries. No rush, no fuss, no second thoughts, just a pure demolition job.
Abhishek Sharma’s stay was cut short as Narine struck instantly in his first over, but SRH had already laid a rock-solid foundation. Enter Klaasen, promoted up the order to keep the tempo alive, and he did just that, ensuring the run rate never dipped, scoring a 17-ball fifty. Meanwhile, Travis Head was in beast mode, cracking one of his finest knocks of the season, racing to a fiery fifty as well. The pitch looked like a batter’s safe haven, and the duo made the most of it with boundaries at effortless regularity. Except for three overs, every other one racked up double digits.
