Mohammed Shami’s fiery spell and Rishabh Pant’s calm finish secured a five-wicket win for Lucknow Super Giants over Sunrisers Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: Mohammed Shami’s devastating opening spell and a composed unbeaten 68 from skipper Rishabh Pant guided Lucknow Super Giants to a tense five-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The win at the Uppal stadium on Sunday marked Lucknow’s first of the IPL season.

Shami’s figures of 2-9 from his four overs decimated Hyderabad’s top order, reducing them to 26-4.

The veteran paceman dismissed dangerous openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head in successive overs to set the tone.

Heinrich Klaasen (62) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (56) staged a recovery with a 116-run stand, lifting Hyderabad to 156-9.

Fast bowlers Prince Yadav and Avesh Khan claimed two wickets each to support Shami’s efforts.

Lucknow’s chase began strongly but faltered in the middle phase, losing quick wickets. Pant held his nerve, steering the team home with one ball to spare.

Needing nine off the final over, the left-hander hit three fours, including the winning boundary off Jaydev Unadkat.

The 35-year-old Shami, who last played for India in the 2025 ODI Champions Trophy final, showcased his enduring class.

Pant’s captain’s knock ensured Lucknow secured a nervy win in their second match of the campaign.

 The Sun Malaysia