Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) secured a spot in the grand finale of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 with a commanding 36-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2, held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Opting to set a total after being invited to bat, SRH posted 175 runs, thanks to a blend of calculated aggression and resilient batting. Their bowlers then executed an exceptional performance to stymie RR’s chase and lead SRH to a memorable win.
Electing to bat first, SRH’s innings was characterized by a consistent display of intent and aggression, a hallmark of their approach throughout the TATA IPL 2024 season. Despite losing early wickets in the powerplay, the batsmen ensured that the run rate remained healthy. The early damage to the SRH batting lineup was inflicted by Trent Boult, who made his presence felt from the very beginning. Abhishek Sharma, starting with a six and a four, fell to a brilliant delivery from Boult in the very first over, caught on the off-side.
Travis Head and Rahul Tripathi then took the mantle, with Tripathi adopting an aggressive approach irrespective of the bowler. His enterprising innings provided the SRH innings with much-needed momentum. Facing R Ashwin in the second over, Tripathi managed a fortunate edge past the slips for a boundary, and continued to find the fence against Boult in subsequent overs. Ashwin’s return in the fourth over saw Tripathi unleash more boundaries, and while he eventually fell to Boult in pursuit of more runs, his brisk knock of 37 off just 15 balls set a solid foundation.
Boult continued his impactful spell by dismissing SRH captain Aiden Markram, who edged one to a sharp fielding effort by Yuzvendra Chahal at short third-man. With SRH precariously positioned at 57 for three after five overs, Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen began to rebuild the innings. Head, after a cautious start, opened his account with a boundary off Sandeep Sharma in the sixth over. Klaasen injected some energy into the innings by striking Chahal for a six over mid-wicket in the eighth over. A lull in proceedings, however, induced a false shot from Head, who was caught at third man off Sandeep Sharma.
The last phase of the innings saw Klaasen expertly shepherd the SRH innings. Partnered by Shahbaz Ahmed, brought in as an Impact Player, Klaasen lifted SRH from a concerning 120 for six to a competitive 175 for nine.
. Klaasen reached his half-century off 33 balls in the 18th over, displaying commendable resolve. For RR, Sandeep Sharma (two for 25) and Avesh Khan (three for 27) emerged as the standout bowlers, with Boult also claiming three wickets.
In response, RR began their run chase with Yashasvi Jaiswal looking in imperious form. His fireworks began with a six off Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the first over and continued to pepper the early overs with boundaries. Despite the wicket of Tom Kohler-Cadmore, dismissed by Pat Cummins, Jaiswal seemed to have the measure of the SRH bowlers, plundering Bhuvneshwar Kumar for three fours and a six in the sixth over. Finishing the powerplay at 51 for one, RR appeared well poised with Jaiswal leading the charge.
However, the middle overs saw a dramatic turn of events as SRH’s spinners clawed their way back into the contest. Shahbaz Ahmed’s sharp fielding resulted in Jaiswal’s dismissal for a swift 42 off 21 balls, caught in the deep. R Ashwin, after a promising start, fell to Abhishek Sharma, who broke the RR innings’ back by having Ashwin caught by Markram.
Shahbaz Ahmed continued to tighten the screws with a crucial double-wicket over in the 12th, dismissing Riyan Parag and Ashwin in quick succession. At 80 for five in 12 overs, RR found themselves in a quagmire. The introduction of Impact Player Shimron Hetmyer did little to shift the momentum as SRH’s disciplined bowling kept him, along with Rovman Powell, on a tight leash.
The only resistance from RR came in the form of Dhruv Jurel, who exhibited commendable temperament amidst the collapsing innings. Jurel fought valiantly, crafting a half-century off 26 balls in the penultimate over, but by then, the outcome was all but sealed. The SRH bowlers had put the game beyond RR’s reach.
Shahbaz and Abhishek, with their left-arm spin, were the game-changers, sharing five wickets and conceding just 47 runs in eight overs. Their efforts ensured that SRH set up a tantalizing rematch with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final on Sunday. As the dust settled in Chennai, SRH’s triumph underscored the team’s adaptability and fighting spirit – characteristics that could very well lead them to the IPL crown.