In a pulsating encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) clinched an emphatic victory over the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by eight wickets, securing their place in the final of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The KKR bowlers put up a commendable display, restricting a formidable SRH batting lineup to a modest total of 159 runs. This win paves the way for KKR’s fourth IPL final appearance and their first since the 2021 season, marking a significant achievement for the team.
The day began with SRH captain Pat Cummins winning the toss and opting to bat first, a decision that would later be scrutinized. The SRH team, known for their aggressive batting approach that had dazzled fans throughout the tournament, were expected to set a challenging target. As Mitchell Starc charged in with the new ball to face Travis Head, the crowd anticipated a show of fireworks. However, it was Starc who drew first blood, cleaning up Head’s stumps with his second delivery, giving KKR an early upper hand.
The initial overs of the powerplay were a spectacle of intense cricketing action. While SRH endeavored to stamp their brand of aggressive cricket, KKR bowlers were relentless in their quest for wickets. Amidst this flurry, Rahul Tripathi stood out as the beacon of hope for SRH, combating the KKR attack with fearless strokes, including several aerial hits, despite the mounting pressure from KKR’s bowlers. However, SRH continued to suffer setbacks at the other end, with three wickets falling in quick succession. Abhishek Sharma fell prey to a catch by Andre Russell off Vaibhav Arora’s delivery in the second over. Starc returned with a fiery spell in the fifth over, leading to a double blow for SRH, dismissing Nitish Reddy who edged one to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Shahbaz Ahmed, who dragged a delivery onto his own stumps first ball. At this juncture, SRH found themselves in dire straits at 39 for four within the first five overs.
A flicker of hope emerged when Heinrich Klaasen joined forces with Rahul Tripathi, employing a daring partnership that injected life into the SRH innings. In the span of six overs, the duo amassed a crucial 61-run stand. An aggressive approach against Sunil Narine in the ninth over saw Klaasen hammering a huge six, attempting to assert control. Tripathi achieved his half-century with a swift reverse-sweep off Chakaravarthy, reaching the milestone in just 29 deliveries, demonstrating resilience under pressure.
However, the momentum shifted once more, with SRH’s innings faltering after this promising phase. Klaasen was dismissed at deep mid-wicket by Rinku Singh for a score of 32, just as he looked set to carry on. Abdul Samad entered with intent, smashing his first ball off Narine for a six, and continued to attack in a similar vein, hitting another off the first ball of the 14th over. A crucial mix-up, however, led to Tripathi being run out for 55, leaving SRH precariously positioned at 121 for six.
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In the concluding overs, SRH captain Pat Cummins displayed commendable tenacity, crafting a 30-run knock off 24 balls, navigating his team past the 150-run mark amidst the continual loss of wickets. Cummins managed to spoil Starc’s figures, hitting a four and a six off the last two deliveries he faced, before falling in the final over. SRH concluded their innings at 159, with KKR’s bowling attack, led by Starc’s three for 34 and Chakaravarthy’s economical two for 26, primarily responsible for curtailing their score. KKR supported their bowling efforts with exceptional fielding, displaying commitment and proficiency.
KKR’s chase began with a fervor suggesting they were eyeing a much larger target. A strategic alteration in their batting lineup saw Gurbaz pairing with Narine to open. In his debut match of the tournament, Gurbaz wasted little time, striking the second delivery for four runs. Narine joined the aggression, welcoming Cummins’ second over with a pair of boundaries, while Gurbaz continued the assault with a top-edge that raced for a six. SRH found no respite despite T Natarajan securing the first wicket with Gurbaz caught at cover for 23.
Despite a breakthrough, Venkatesh Iyer entered the scene with determination, maintaining the high tempo. KKR scored 63 within the six-over powerplay. Narine’s role ended swiftly with a 21-run cameo, courtesy of an aerial shot to deep square-leg off Cummins.
Venkatesh and Shreyas Iyer seamlessly assumed control of the innings, managing the required run rate adeptly without curbing their natural instincts. SRH endured a tough outing, squandering both reviews and missing crucial catch opportunities off Shreyas. Venkatesh took charge initially, dispatching several significant sixes with ease over the boundaries, later joined by Shreyas as they approached the target.
With victory in sight, Venkatesh celebrated a personal milestone, reaching his half-century with a six pulled over mid-wicket off Nitish’s delivery, taking 28 balls to get there. Shreyas soon followed, blasting Head for a six and a boundary over square-leg, and smashing another six to reach his fifty off 23 deliveries. The KKR captain fittingly sealed the match with a monumental six over long-on, concluding their chase in merely 13.4 overs with 38 balls remaining, emphasising their dominance.
As KKR eagerly prepare for the grand final, SRH will seek redemption in another qualifier, facing off against the victor of the Eliminator between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals. This defeat does not mark the end for SRH, as they still have a path to chase glory in the IPL 2024 final.