In a thrilling display of cricket, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has earned a place in the final of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 by defeating Rajasthan Royals (RR) with a 36-run victory in Qualifier 2 held at Chennai. Electing to bat first, SRH set a challenging target of 175, a score that their bowlers defended admirably, resulting in a performance that will be remembered for its sheer dominance.
The start of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s innings was marked by aggressive intent, a hallmark they’ve shown throughout the TATA IPL 2024. Despite losing a few wickets early on, their aggressive approach did not wane. Key performer for Rajasthan Royals in the opening overs was Trent Boult, who managed to deliver some crucial blows. Abhishek Sharma, starting the SRH innings, didn’t shy from attacking as he began with a six over mid-wicket followed by a boundary. However, Boult swiftly retaliated by drawing a false shot from Sharma, leading to his dismissal.
Travis Head and Rahul Tripathi were the next to the crease, with Tripathi taking a more aggressive approach. Tripathi’s intent was palpable as he fearlessly played his shots against all bowlers. Facing R Ashwin in the second over, Tripathi edged a four through third-man and continued his assault with boundaries against Boult and Ashwin. Tripathi, attempting to add more runs to the scoreboard, eventually fell to a slower ball from Boult, managing 37 off 15 balls and providing SRH a good momentum.
Boult, however, wasn’t done yet. He struck again, dismissing Aiden Markram, caught by Yuzvendra Chahal. By the end of the fifth over, SRH stood at 57 for three. Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen then initiated a recovery phase. Head, initially quiet, found his first boundary against Sandeep Sharma. Klaasen, on the other hand, kept the scoreboard ticking with a six off Chahal. However, another setback came when Head attempted to guide a ball to third-man, resulting in his dismissal.
The last 10 overs witnessed Heinrich Klaasen leading SRH’s charge, despite Rajasthan’s bowlers endeavoring to restrict SRH.
. The 14th over delivered a double blow for SRH when Avesh Khan claimed successive wickets, removing Nitish Reddy and Abdul Samad, both contributing minimally. However, Klaasen’s resilience saw him reach his fifty off just 33 balls in the 18th over. Adding essential runs towards the end, Shahbaz Ahmed, brought in as an Impact Player, chipped in with 18 runs, pushing SRH to a final total of 175 for nine. Rajasthan’s notable bowlers included Sandeep (2 for 25), and Avesh (3 for 27), while Boult also claimed three victims.
Rajasthan’s run chase started on a promising note with Yashasvi Jaiswal in fine form, striking early against Bhuvneshwar Kumar. In the initial overs, even as the SRH bowlers kept it tight, Jaiswal looked settled. The breakthrough came courtesy of Pat Cummins, who dismissed Tom Kohler-Cadmore. Jaiswal then showcased a flurry of boundaries against Bhuvneshwar, setting a strong foundation for RR as they finished the powerplay at 51 for one.
However, the game tilted dramatically as SRH’s spinners took charge. Shahbaz Ahmed broke the momentum by dismissing Jaiswal, caught in the deep for a well-made 42 off 21 balls. Abhishek Sharma followed with a crucial wicket of Sanju Samson, who lofted a ball to deep mid-wicket. The turning point was Shahbaz’s double strike in the 12th over, claiming Riyan Parag and R Ashwin in quick succession, leaving Rajasthan at a precarious 80 for five.
From this position, Rajasthan Royals couldn’t mount a recovery. Impact Player Shimron Hetmyer failed to accelerate, and Rovman Powell too found it challenging against disciplined SRH bowling. The only notable resistance came from Dhruv Jurel, who showcased commendable grit by reaching his fifty off 26 balls. Yet, with wickets tumbling around him, the target seemed insurmountable.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad spinners, particularly Shahbaz Ahmed and Abhishek Sharma, were instrumental in stifling the Rajasthan lineup. Combining for five wickets and conceding only 47 runs in their eight overs, they effectively sealed the game for SRH. This victory sets up an exciting rematch of Qualifier 1, as SRH will face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final at Chennai, promising another riveting encounter for the IPL 2024 title.