Sunrisers Hyderabad Triumph Over Punjab Kings in Thrilling IPL Encounter

In a gripping IPL match, Sunrisers Hyderabad triumphed over Punjab Kings by 33 runs, led by Cooper Connolly's remarkable unbeaten century. Despite a shaky start, SRH's disciplined bowling and explosive batting secured their position at the top of the standings. The match showcased thrilling performances, including key contributions from Klaasen and Kishan, making it a memorable encounter for cricket fans. Discover all the highlights and key moments from this exciting clash.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 7, 2026, 02:17 IST

SRH Secures Victory Against PBKS

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], May 6: In an exciting Indian Premier League (IPL) clash, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) emerged victorious against Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 33 runs on Wednesday, thanks to an outstanding unbeaten century from Cooper Connolly.

Connolly stood out as the sole performer for SRH, finishing with an impressive 107 runs off 59 deliveries, which included eight sixes and seven fours. This remarkable feat made him the youngest overseas player to achieve a century in IPL history, according to CricViz statistics.

Despite a shaky start, SRH's disciplined bowling under their captain led to a crucial win at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

Facing a challenging target of 236 runs, PBKS's innings began disastrously, losing three wickets in the first four overs, which severely hindered their chase. Priyansh Arya (1) was dismissed in the opening over, followed by Prabhsimran Singh (3), who was caught by Pat Cummins off Nitish Kumar Reddy's bowling. The situation worsened when skipper Shreyas Iyer (5) fell to Eshan Malinga, leaving PBKS struggling at 23/3 within just 3.2 overs.

Amidst the falling wickets, 22-year-old Cooper Connolly delivered a remarkable performance, scoring his first IPL century with 107 runs off 59 balls. He briefly found support from Marcus Stoinis (28 off 14) and Suryansh Shedge (25 off 17), but the required run rate, which hovered above 15 for most of the innings, proved too steep to overcome.

After Stoinis's dismissal in the seventh over, Connolly formed a 47-run partnership with Shedge. However, Cummins dismissed Shedge in the 12th over, leaving PBKS at 114/5. Shashank Singh (5) contributed little, while Marco Jansen managed a quick 19 runs off 16 balls, forming a 68-run partnership with Connolly.

Ultimately, PBKS faced an impossible task, needing 49 runs off the final over. Connolly reached his maiden IPL century in just 57 balls, but PBKS ended their innings at 202/7, falling short by 33 runs.

On the bowling front for SRH, Pat Cummins effectively rotated his bowlers, preventing PBKS from gaining any momentum. Cummins (2/34), Shivang Kumar (2/45), Sakib Hussain (1/40), and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1/11 in 2 overs) were the key wicket-takers for the home side.

This victory elevates SRH to the top of the IPL 2026 standings, with seven wins from 11 matches, totaling 14 points. PBKS, on the other hand, sits second with six wins and three losses from 10 matches.

Earlier in the match, Klaasen (69 runs off 43 balls) and Kishan (55 runs off 32 balls) played pivotal roles after openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma provided a solid foundation. The PBKS bowlers struggled, with only Yuzvendra Chahal managing to keep his economy under 10 runs per over.

Despite PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer winning the toss and choosing to bowl first, the decision backfired as SRH batters capitalized on a flat Uppal pitch.

The 'Orange Army' openers set a strong tone right from the start, with Abhishek Sharma (35 off 13) and Travis Head (38 off 19) aggressively attacking the PBKS bowlers.

Abhishek was particularly explosive, hitting four sixes before being dismissed by Lockie Ferguson in the fourth over. By the end of the Powerplay, SRH had raced to 79/1, boasting a run rate exceeding 13.

Yuzvendra Chahal managed to dismiss Travis Head, but not before he contributed significantly to SRH's strong start with a 38-run innings. After seven overs, SRH stood at 86/2.

Following the openers' departure, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen took control of the innings. Kishan, who benefited from three dropped catches, capitalized on his chances to score a rapid 55 off 32 balls, including four sixes and two fours.

Klaasen, the primary aggressor in the latter stages, showcased his power-hitting skills, reaching his fifty in just 32 balls and finishing unbeaten at 69 off 43 balls, with four sixes and three fours. Together, they formed an 88-run partnership off 48 balls.

A late cameo from Nitish Kumar Reddy (29* off 13) ensured that the momentum remained with SRH, as the duo added 63 runs in just 32 balls to conclude the innings.

The Punjab bowling unit faced a tough challenge, with Marco Jansen being the most expensive, conceding 61 runs in his four overs without taking a wicket. Yuzvendra Chahal was the only bowler to maintain some control, finishing with figures of 1/32. Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson, and Vijaykumar Vyshak each took one wicket but struggled to contain the runs during the death overs.