Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has accomplished a significant feat by advancing to the final of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 following a commendable 36-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2, held at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium. Opting to bat first, SRH posted a competitive total of 175, which their bowlers defended with zest and precision, ensuring the door to the finals swung open for them.
Inserted to bat by RR, SRH maintained their aggressive strategy, a hallmark of their 2024 campaign, even though they faced early setbacks. Trent Boult of RR caused initial disruptions, scalping critical wickets in the powerplay. Abhishek Sharma initiated the innings promisingly with a six over mid-wicket followed by a four, but Boult quickly retaliated by tempting Sharma into an errant shot, which was neatly caught on the off-side.
Travis Head took his time to embed himself at the crease while Rahul Tripathi, on the other hand, chose an aggressive route. Tripathi was undeterred by the reputation of the bowlers, showcasing an array of exuberant shots. His belligerence was particularly evident when he welcomed R Ashwin with a four through third-man, albeit a tentative one, and continued to hammer Boult and Ashwin in subsequent overs. He managed to boost SRH’s momentum substantially, scoring 37 off just 15 balls before falling to Boult’s slower delivery, guiding it to the short third-man.
Boult continued his rampage by dismissing Aiden Markram shortly after, who edged one to Yuzvendra Chahal at short third-man, pushing SRH into a precarious position at 57 for three after five overs. It then fell upon Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen to retrieve the innings. Head, relatively subdued at the start, picked up his first boundary in the sixth over off Sandeep Sharma. Klaasen, however, soon found his rhythm, dispatching Chahal for a six over mid-wicket in the eighth over. However, in attempting to break the subsequent quiet spell, Head was deceived by Sandeep and was caught at third-man.
With SRH at 120 for six in the 14th over, Klaasen marshaled a recuperative effort. Despite Avesh Khan’s twin strikes that saw Nitish Reddy (caught reverse-sweeping) and Abdul Samad (bowled first ball) falling in quick succession, Klaasen ensured a respectable total, finishing the innings strong.
. He registered a vital fifty off 33 balls in the 18th over, while Shahbaz Ahmed, brought in as an Impact Player, added 18 runs to bolster SRH’s total to 175 for nine. Among RR’s bowlers, Sandeep Sharma (2 for 25) and Avesh Khan (3 for 27) shone, with Boult also claiming three wickets.
Chasing 176, RR had a steady start with Yashaswi Jaiswal looking in sublime touch, hitting Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a towering six in the very first over. Although the opening overs tested RR’s mettle, they got a solid foundation at 51 for one by the end of the powerplay with Jaiswal setting the pace. However, SRH’s spinners introduced a twist in the tale, altering the momentum of the match.
Shahbaz Ahmed snared the crucial wicket of Jaiswal, who was caught in the deep for a well-made 42 off 21 balls in the eighth over. Abhishek Sharma then joined the act, inducing a lofted shot from Sanju Samson, who was caught by Markram at deep mid-wicket. This precipitated a collapse for RR, as the spinners tightened their hold. Shahbaz struck twice in the 12th over, removing Riyan Parag (caught at mid-wicket) and Ashwin (edged to the wicketkeeper), leaving RR reeling at 80 for five in 12 overs.
With the middle order in tatters, RR never managed to mount a credible fightback. Impact Player Shimron Hetmyer found himself strained for boundaries, while Rovman Powell was subdued by SRH’s disciplined bowling. Dhruv Jurel stood as the lone warrior for RR, reaching a resilient fifty off 26 balls amid falling wickets. Despite his valiant efforts, the writing was on the wall for RR as the match edged towards its conclusion.
The left-arm spin duo of Shahbaz and Abhishek proved pivotal, collectively accounting for five wickets while conceding a mere 47 runs in their eight overs. Their effectiveness ensured SRH’s strong grip on the game, eventually setting up a rematch of Qualifier 1. SRH is now poised to clash with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the coveted IPL title on Sunday in Chennai, looking to culminate their campaign with ultimate glory.