Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) made an emphatic entry into the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 final, securing a critical 36-run victory against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the highly anticipated Qualifier 2 at Chennai. This win positions them for a rematch against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the championship duel this Sunday.
Winning the toss, Rajasthan Royals decided to field, putting SRH into bat first. SRH, known for their aggressive gameplay throughout the season, maintained their momentum despite losing early wickets during the powerplay overs. Trent Boult, spearheading the attack for RR, struck early, removing opener Abhishek Sharma. Sharma, after a promising start with a six and a four, succumbed to a mistimed shot, falling to Boult’s delivery which was deftly caught on the off-side.
Travis Head and Rahul Tripathi then forged a new partnership, with Tripathi taking an aggressive stance from the onset. Facing spin maestro R Ashwin, Tripathi capitalized early, striking a bold four through third-man. He didn’t spare Boult either, dispatching him for boundaries in subsequent overs. His audacious batting invigorated the SRH innings, scoring 37 off just 15 balls before falling to Boult again, his slower delivery expertly directed to third-man.
Boult continued his impressive spell, dismissing SRH captain Aiden Markram shortly after, with another catch to the reliable Yuzvendra Chahal. At the five-over mark, SRH were wobbly at 57 for three. Stepping up to stabilize the innings were Head and Heinrich Klaasen. Head took charge in the sixth over with a boundary off Sandeep Sharma while Klaasen joined the fray against Chahal, smashing a mighty six over mid-wicket in the eighth.
However, a few quiet overs saw Head attempting an adventurous shot off a Sandeep delivery, leading to his downfall. The innings needed Klaasen’s steady innings to propel SRH forward. Just when RR’s bowlers seemed to apply brakes on the scoring in the middle overs, Avesh Khan brought his A-game, striking twice in the 14th over, featuring a crucial catch to dismiss Nitish Reddy, among his other scalps.
Klaasen, unwavering in his resolve, anchored the innings, helping SRH recover from 120 for six.
. His careful yet powerful approach led him to a well-earned half-century from 33 balls. Under the Impact Player rule, Shahbaz Ahmed bolstered the lower order with a swift 18, nudging SRH’s total to a challenging 175 for nine. Sandeep Sharma (two for 25) and Avesh Khan (three for 27) stood out in RR’s bowling lineup alongside Boult’s disciplined performance.
With a target of 176, RR’s chase began with promise as Yashaswi Jaiswal exhibited his batting prowess. In an impactful start, he struck a significant six off Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Despite Pat Cummins’ breakthrough wicket of Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Jaiswal’s command in the sixth over gave RR temporary respite, pushing them to a competitive 51 for one at the end of the powerplay.
However, SRH’s spin department decisively altered the game’s trajectory. Shahbaz Ahmed’s skillful spin claimed Jaiswal, sending tremors through RR’s batting lineup. Simultaneously, Abhishek Sharma, stepping into the bowling attack, snagged the key wicket of RR captain Sanju Samson with the assistance of an excellent Markram catch at deep mid-wicket.
The pressure turned insurmountable with cumulative efforts from SRH’s spinners. Shahbaz tightened the screws further with a double-wicket haul in the 12th over. Riyan Parag’s dismissal followed by Ashwin’s edge to the wicketkeeper left RR in a precarious position at 80 for five.
Despite Shimron Hetmyer’s inclusion as an Impact Player, RR failed to regain their footing, the SRH bowling attack proving too formidable. Rovman Powell, another pivotal player for RR, was kept on a tight leash. The only resistance came from Dhruv Jurel, who resiliently crafted a half-century amidst the chaos. However, his lone battle could not alter the course of the match.
The match witnessed SRH’s spinners taking center stage, with Shahbaz and Abhishek combining for a total of five wickets, giving away only 47 runs between them. This remarkable performance not only sealed the match for SRH but also ensured their place in the IPL 2024 final, where they will reignite their battle against Kolkata Knight Riders for the coveted trophy.