Heinrich Klaasen hit a half-century as the Sunrisers Hyderabad thrashed the Kolkata Knight Riders by 65 runs at Eden Gardens on Thursday.
The win was Sunrisers’ first of the new IPL season after losing their opener to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Australia’s Travis Head hit 46 off 21 balls and along with Abhishek Sharma, who clobbered a 21-ball 48, lay the foundations for Hyderabad’s 226-8.
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The pair put on 82 runs for the first wicket as they tore into the opposition attack and hit 10 fours and seven sixes between them.
More than 8️⃣0️⃣ runs inside the powerplay ?
? Glimpses of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma’s fiery partnership ?#SRH 84/1 after 6️⃣ overs
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/iCMFpDudP7#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #KKRvSRH | @SunRisers pic.twitter.com/kWyL3BNLT7
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 2, 2026
Klaasen top-scored with 52 after the Sunrisers lost three quick wickets, including captain Ishan Kishan, for 14, and Abhishek in one over from Blessing Muzarabani, who finished with 4-41.
Klaas Apart! ?
? Heinrich Klaasen at his innovative best ?
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/iCMFpDudP7#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #KKRvSRH | @sunrisers pic.twitter.com/zr9UIYSQYO
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 2, 2026
Klaasen and Nitish Kumar Reddy, who made 39, put on 82 for the fifth wicket to help the Sunrisers finish on a high.
Hyderabad then bowled out three-time winners Kolkata for 161 in 16 overs to register their first points.
Both teams came into the match after a defeat in their opening outings but 2016 winners Hyderabad executed their plans to perfection.
Kolkata’s New Zealand import Finn Allen struck three fours and two sixes off David Payne in the first over of the chase to get them off to a blistering start.
Hammered ✖️ 2⃣ ?
? How good was that opening over blitz from Finn Allen? ?
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/iCMFpDudP7#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #KKRvSRH | @KKRiders pic.twitter.com/UATwyAZkcu
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 2, 2026
But after a seven-ball 28, Allen departed in the second over and despite wicketkeeper-batsman Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s 52, the Kolkata chase fizzled out.
Left-arm quick Jaydev Unadkat took three wickets, including two in two balls, to bowl out KKR with four overs left unused as the Sunrisers bounced back in style.
– AFP
Photo: BCCI
