IPL: Sunrisers cruise past Lucknow to stay in playoff hunt as Super Giants bow out

The loss officially ended Lucknow's hopes of reaching the playoffs, making them the fifth team eliminated from this season's IPL. Meanwhile, three teams - Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Punjab Kings - have secured their spots.

The final playoff spot will now be decided on Wednesday, when fourth-placed Mumbai Indians face fifth-placed Delhi Capitals in a crucial encounter, with the winner likely to advance.

Chasing 206 for victory, the Sunrisers made light work of the target, reaching it with 10 balls to spare in a well-rounded team performance. The chase was set up by a blistering knock from Abhishek Sharma, who smashed 59 off just 20 balls, including six sixes and four fours, to give his team a flying start.

His quickfire innings was backed up by solid middle-order contributions from Ishan Kishan (35 off 28) and Kamindu Mendis (32 off 21), who had to retire hurt near the end of the chase. Proteas star Heinrich Klaasen then did his part with a quickfire 47 off 28 to help see the team home.

Together, the partnerships of 82 between Sharma and Kishan, 41 between Kishan and Klaasen, and 55 between Klaasen and Mendis ensured the chase stayed well ahead of the required rate.

Earlier, the Super Giants posted a competitive 205-7 after being asked to bat first. They got off to a flying start, with Mitchell Marsh hammering 65 off 39 deliveries and Aiden Markram smashing 61 off 38 balls to share a 115-run stand in just over 10 overs.

However, after a strong powerplay and reaching 100 in the ninth over, Lucknow's innings faltered in the second half. Marsh's dismissal triggered a slowdown, and despite Nicholas Pooran's enterprising 45 off 26 balls, the middle and lower order struggled to maintain momentum - particularly after Markram departed as well.

The Sunrisers' bowlers fought back admirably in the closing overs, restricting Lucknow to just 45 runs in the final four overs. A 20-run final over added some gloss to the total, but it proved insufficient against Hyderabad's fluent chase.

READ MORE: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill seal dominant win as Gujarat Titans storm into IPL playoffs