In a thrilling match at Chennai, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) booked their place in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 final with a commanding 36-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2. Opting to bat first, SRH posted a competitive total of 175, which their bowlers defended successfully, delivering an exemplary performance.
Winning the toss, Rajasthan Royals invited SRH to bat, hoping to exploit early conditions. SRH, known for their aggressive approach in the TATA IPL 2024, continued their aggressive gameplay in the initial 10 overs. Despite losing a few early wickets, they maintained their intent. Trent Boult, spearheading RR’s bowling attack, made an immediate impact. Abhishek Sharma got off the mark with a six over mid-wicket followed by a four, but Boult retaliated swiftly, getting Sharma out with a deceptive delivery, caught expertly on the off-side.
Travis Head and Rahul Tripathi took the crease next, aiming to stabilize the innings. While Head took his time, Tripathi was in an aggressive mood from the outset. He dismissed both pacers and spinners with equal ease. Tripathi began his onslaught against R Ashwin with a nervy boundary to third man and continued to hammer Boult in subsequent overs, adding a mix of fours and sixes. However, his brash approach cost him his wicket as he attempted another boundary but was caught out by a slower delivery from Boult. His 37 off 15 balls gave the SRH innings sufficient momentum.
Boult wasn’t finished yet and got Aiden Markram’s wicket shortly after, with Markram edging a catch to Yuzvendra Chahal at short third-man. At 57 for three in five overs, SRH needed a solid partnership. Head and Heinrich Klaasen responded by steadying the innings. Head broke his initial silence with a boundary off Sandeep Sharma in the sixth over.
. Klaasen too, found his rhythm, smashing Chahal for a six over mid-wicket in the eighth over. However, the tempo dropped slightly, leading to Head’s dismissal, caught at third-man off Sandeep in the tenth over.
The latter half of SRH’s innings saw Klaasen lead the charge. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, including a double strike by Avesh Khan where Nitish Reddy and Abdul Samad fell in consecutive deliveries, Klaasen continued his assault. By the 18th over, Klaasen had reached his fifty off 33 balls, with Shahbaz Ahmed, brought in as an Impact Player, contributing useful 18 runs. SRH finished at 175 for nine, with notable bowling performances from Sandeep (two for 25), Avesh (three for 27), and Boult (three wickets).
As RR began their chase, Yashaswi Jaiswal appeared to be in sublime form, taking Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a six in the very first over. RR reached 51 for one at the conclusion of the powerplay, with Jaiswal displaying aggression and skill. The breakthrough, however, came when Pat Cummins dismissed Tom Kohler-Cadmore early on.
The game took a decisive turn in the middle overs with SRH’s spinners, Shahbaz Ahmed and Abhishek Sharma, coming into play. Shahbaz removed Jaiswal, caught in the deep, and then Abhishek took the crucial wicket of Sanju Samson. From 80 for five in 12 overs, aided by Shahbaz’s double strike dismissing Riyan Parag and Ashwin, RR’s hopes dwindled.
Despite RR’s attempts to resurrect the innings, including bringing in Shimron Hetmyer as an Impact Player and Rovman Powell’s efforts, they couldn’t break free from the stranglehold of SRH bowlers. Dhruv Jurel showcased his fighting spirit, notching up a quick fifty off 26 balls by the penultimate over, but with wickets tumbling at the other end, the effort was in vain.
Abhishek and Shahbaz were instrumental with their combined five wickets, conceding a mere 47 runs in their eight overs. Their stellar performance ensured SRH’s victory and set up a rematch of Qualifier 1, where they will face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the IPL 2024 title on Sunday in Chennai. The cricketing world now waits with bated breath for what promises to be an electrifying final.