SRH vs CSK: Malinga, Reddy defend 194 in thriller

Sunrisers Hyderabad held their nerve in a tense contest, defending 194 to seal a 10-run win despite Chennai Super Kings being firmly in control of the chase at multiple stages.

SRH posted 194 for 9, powered by half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma (59) and Heinrich Klaasen (59), before restricting CSK to 184 for 8. Eshan Malinga (3-29) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (2-31) led a disciplined bowling effort to turn the game around late.

SRH recover after strong CSK middle overs

At one stage, projections had SRH heading towards a much bigger total after a rapid start. Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 59, including a 15-ball fifty, set the tone early.

However, CSK’s middle-overs bowling pulled things back impressively. Anshul Kamboj (3-22) and Jamie Overton (3-37) were particularly effective, with Overton dismissing Abhishek shortly after a dropped chance.

Klaasen anchored the innings with 59 off 33 balls, maintaining control against spin, including taking 24 runs off Noor Ahmad at a strike rate of 185. Despite this, SRH were restricted to 194 for 9, with CSK conceding just 17 runs across the final 18 deliveries.

Mhatre powers CSK start before injury setback

CSK began the chase aggressively, racing to 76 for 3 in the powerplay, narrowly ahead of SRH’s 75 for 2.

Ayush Mhatre was central to that momentum, continuing his strong form against pace with a high strike rate. He dominated the early overs, striking multiple boundaries in a single over.

However, his innings was cut short due to a left-leg injury while attempting a quick run. The interruption halted CSK’s momentum, and they struggled to maintain scoring consistency through the middle overs, managing only 58 runs in the next 8.4 overs while losing four wickets.

SRH bowlers turn the game in middle overs

With CSK needing 84 off 60 balls and seven wickets in hand, the chase appeared well within reach.

But SRH’s lesser-known bowlers stepped up collectively. Shivang Kumar removed Dewald Brevis for 0, while Sakib Hussain dismissed Shivam Dube to break the backbone of the chase.

All four key bowlers — Malinga, Reddy, Shivang and Sakib — maintained economy rates of 8 or below while taking wickets at crucial intervals, steadily tightening the contest.

Malinga delivers under pressure

Eshan Malinga produced the decisive spell at the death. He dismissed Ruturaj Gaikwad with a short ball and then executed his yorkers effectively to remove both Matt Short (34 off 30) and Sarfaraz Khan (25 off 19), both caught in the deep.

Malinga later revealed he was also getting reverse swing, which added another dimension to his control in the final overs.

Despite being favourites during the chase, CSK lost their way in the closing stages as SRH completed a remarkable turnaround.

What this result means

This victory strengthens Sunrisers Hyderabad’s position in IPL 2026, highlighting their ability to defend totals even under pressure.

For Chennai Super Kings, the defeat will be seen as a missed opportunity. Having dominated large phases of the chase, their inability to close out the game underlines ongoing inconsistencies in finishing tight matches.

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