In a riveting encounter at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) stormed into the final of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 by defeating Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 36 runs in Qualifier 2. The intense clash saw SRH put up a fighting total of 175 runs, which their bowlers defended with tenacity to secure a memorable victory.
After winning the toss, Rajasthan Royals invited Sunrisers Hyderabad to bat first – a decision that initially seemed to favor their bowling strength. Despite losing early wickets in the powerplay, SRH maintained an aggressive approach, a strategy they have employed throughout this season. Trent Boult struck early blows for RR, including the wicket of Abhishek Sharma, who had started confidently with boundaries but fell to a sharp Boult delivery, caught on the off-side.
Travis Head and Rahul Tripathi then took charge of SRH’s innings. While Head took his time to settle, Tripathi launched a blistering assault on the RR bowlers. His cavalier 37 off 15 balls, including boundaries off Boult and Ashwin, set the tone for SRH. However, Boult’s prowess shone as he dismissed Tripathi and then returned to send Aiden Markram packing, leaving SRH at a precarious 57 for three in just five overs.
Amidst the early chaos, Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen initiated a rebuilding process. Head’s steady presence and Klaasen’s aggression guided SRH to a respectable position. Klaasen, in particular, displayed remarkable resilience, hitting a six off Chahal in the eighth over to announce his intent. However, RR pacers continued to chip away at the SRH lineup, with Avesh Khan picking significant wickets in the middle overs. Nitish Reddy succumbed to a reverse-sweep, caught by Chahal, followed by the first-ball dismissal of Abdul Samad. This reduced SRH to 120 for six.
Not one to succumb easily, Klaasen spearheaded a late surge, guiding SRH to a competitive total. He reached a valuable fifty off 33 balls, supported by Shahbaz Ahmed, who added a crucial 18 runs after being introduced as an Impact Player. SRH eventually reached 175 for nine, with Sandeep Sharma (two for 25) and Avesh (three for 27) emerging as the pick of the bowlers for Rajasthan, alongside Boult’s three-for performance.
.
The chase for Rajasthan Royals commenced with Yashaswi Jaiswal in sublime touch, smashing Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a six in the opening over. Jaiswal, exuding confidence, continued to find boundaries, propelling RR to a promising start. However, Pat Cummins struck a critical blow to dismiss Tom Kohler-Cadmore, providing SRH the opening they needed.
As the game progressed into the middle overs, the pendulum swung in favor of SRH’s spinners. Shahbaz Ahmed played a pivotal role, dismissing Jaiswal, who looked set on 42 off 21. Abhishek Sharma then claimed the crucial wicket of Sanju Samson, who was caught by Markram on a misjudged lofted shot to deep mid-wicket.
Shahbaz continued his sterling performance, capturing two key wickets in his subsequent over. Riyan Parag fell to a mistimed shot, and Ashwin edged one to the keeper, leaving RR tottering at 80 for five after 12 overs. This double strike essentially sealed the fate of the Royals’ run chase.
RR struggled to mount a recovery, as SRH’s spinners tightened their grip. Impact Player Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell found it difficult to get going against a relentless SRH attack. The sole resistance came from Dhruv Jurel, who showcased commendable temperament amid falling wickets. His valiant 50 off 26 balls highlighted his potential but wasn’t enough to rescue RR.
Shahbaz Ahmed and Abhishek Sharma turned out to be the game-changers with their economical and wicket-taking spells, sharing five wickets between them and conceding just 47 runs in their combined eight overs. This disciplined bowling effort ensured SRH held their nerve and secured a place in the final.
With this victory, SRH set up a rematch against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the grand finale, marking an intense conclusion to what has been a thrilling IPL season. The title clash at Chennai promises to be an electrifying battle as both teams vie for the coveted TATA IPL 2024 trophy.
