Sunrisers' Abhishek hits fifth highest IPL score

Indian Premier League, Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad 242-2 (20 overs): Abhishek 135* (68)

Delhi Capitals: Yet to bat

Scorecard. Table

India opener Abhishek Sharma hit the fifth-highest score in Indian Premier League history for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Delhi Capitals.

The 25-year-old left-hander, who is number one in the men's T20 batting rankings, batted throughout the innings for 135 not out from 68 balls in the hosts' 242-2.

He peppered the straight boundaries with powerful drives, hitting 10 sixes and 10 fours, and reached three figures in 47 deliveries.

His score has only been bettered in the IPL by West Indies great Chris Gayle (175 not out), Brendon McCullum (158 not out), Abhishek's 141 on the same ground last year and Quinton de Kock's 140 against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022.

It was also Abhishek's ninth T20 century, taking him joint fourth on the all-time list.

Abhishek has been a dominant force in T20s in recent years, with two T20 international centuries to go with his two in the IPL.

He began the recent T20 World Cup with three consecutive ducks but hit 52 as India beat New Zealand in the final.

After being promoted to open the batting in 2022, he has built a fearsome partnership with Australian Travis Head at Sunrisers.

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Abhishek scored 62 of his runs with drives, including eight of his boundaries

Three of his T20 hundreds have come at Sunrisers' home ground in Hyderabad, where two of the four highest IPL totals have been made.

Against Delhi he put on 97 in 8.5 overs with Head, 79 in 35 with Ishan Kishan and 66 not out in 32 with South African Heinrich Klaasen.

Klaasen hit three sixes in 37 not out from 13 balls. Head made 37 and Kishan 25.