Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) stormed through to the final of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 with an impressive 36-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Qualifier 2 held at Chennai. Opting to bat first, SRH posted a challenging total of 175 runs, which their bowlers defended with a laudable performance, securing them a spot in the title clash.
Winning the toss, Rajasthan Royals decided to field first, expecting to exploit any early moisture in the pitch. However, SRH continued to showcase the aggressive batting intent they have been known for throughout the TATA IPL 2024. Despite losing a few early wickets in the powerplay, their intentions didn’t waver. Trent Boult delivered for RR, causing initial damage. Abhishek Sharma started with flair, hitting a six over mid-wicket followed by an elegant four, but Boult struck back in the same over, inducing a false shot from Sharma that was caught on the off-side.
In the wake of Sharma’s dismissal, Travis Head took charge to stabilize the innings, while Rahul Tripathi opted for an aggressive approach at the other end. Tripathi, true to his combative style, played his shots freely irrespective of the bowler. R Ashwin was introduced into the attack but was immediately put under pressure by Tripathi, who hit a slightly edgy four through third-man. Boult, too, couldn’t escape the wrath of Tripathi’s bat as he was taken for boundaries in subsequent overs. When Ashwin returned to bowl his fourth over, Tripathi continued his charge with two more fours and a six. Boult, seeking retaliation, was hit for another six and four but managed to dismiss Tripathi with a slower ball, caught at short third-man. Tripathi’s aggressive knock of 37 off 15 balls set a solid foundation for SRH.
Boult continued to be a thorn in SRH’s flesh as he soon sent Aiden Markram back to the pavilion, caught by Chahal at short third-man, reducing SRH to 57 for three after five overs. Heinrich Klaasen joined Travis Head to rebuild the innings. Head, after a quiet start, found his groove in the sixth over with a boundary off Sandeep Sharma. Klaasen kept the momentum going, lofting Chahal for a six over mid-wicket in the eighth over. Sandeep Sharma, keen to stem the flow of runs, induced a false shot from Head, who was caught at third-man.
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As the innings progressed into the final ten overs, Heinrich Klaasen took the helm, guiding SRH’s innings despite RR’s bowlers continually picking wickets. Avesh Khan struck twice in the 14th over, sending Nitish Reddy and Abdul Samad packing, with Chahal taking his third catch. It was Klaasen’s leadership that propelled SRH from 120 for six to a competitive total. Scoring his fifty off 33 balls in the 18th over, Klaasen ensured SRH posted 175 for nine. Shahbaz Ahmed, brought in as an Impact Player, contributed a crucial 18 runs. Among RR’s bowlers, Sandeep Sharma (two for 25) and Avesh Khan (three for 27) stood out, with Boult also claiming three wickets.
Chasing 176, Yashaswi Jaiswal appeared in sublime touch, scoring heavily off Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the very first over with a powerful six over mid-wicket. Despite the initial ease, Rajasthan Royals found themselves in trouble as Pat Cummins dismissed Tom Kohler-Cadmore early. Jaiswal’s aggressive display continued in the sixth over with a flurry of boundaries, concluding the powerplay with RR on 51 for one.
However, SRH’s spinners soon took control, bringing about a dramatic shift in the game’s momentum. Shahbaz Ahmed broke through by dismissing Jaiswal, caught in the deep for 42 off 21 balls. Abhishek Sharma’s introduction into the attack further strangled RR, with Sanju Samson lofting a shot straight into the hands of Markram at deep mid-wicket.
As the pressure mounted, SRH’s spinners tightened their grip with Shahbaz delivering a crucial double-wicket over in the 12th. Riyan Parag was caught at mid-wicket and Ashwin edged to the keeper. At 80 for five in 12 overs, RR found themselves in dire straits.
Despite the efforts of Impact Player Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell, RR couldn’t claw back into the game, their innings falling apart under the disciplined SRH bowling attack. Dhruv Jurel remained the lone warrior, reaching his fifty off 26 balls in the penultimate over, but his valiant effort wasn’t enough to change the course of the game.
SRH’s spin duo, Shahbaz and Abhishek, claimed five wickets between them while conceding only 47 runs in their combined eight overs. Their efforts ensured SRH cemented their spot in the final against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in what promises to be an exhilarating title clash in Chennai.