In a thrilling encounter at the hallowed grounds of Chennai, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) cemented their place in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 final with a compelling 36-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) during Qualifier 2. SRH’s spirited performance with both bat and ball ensured that their dream of lifting the coveted IPL trophy remains alive.
Opting to bat first upon being invited by Rajasthan Royals, SRH continued their aggressive brand of cricket, which has been a hallmark throughout the TATA IPL 2024 season. Despite losing early wickets during the powerplay, SRH persisted with their attacking intent, setting a target of 175 runs. It was Trent Boult who struck early for RR, dealing a setback to SRH’s innings.
The innings began with Abhishek Sharma opening in an explosive manner, smashing a six and a four off Boult. However, Boult quickly retaliated, inducing a flawed shot from Abhishek, resulting in a catch in the off-side. This early exchange highlighted RR’s intention to make early inroads into SRH’s batting lineup.
As the innings progressed, Travis Head anchored the SRH innings albeit cautiously while Rahul Tripathi showcased his combative spirit from the other end. Tripathi made a significant impact, having faced RR’s varied bowling attack with commendable flair. His counterattack against R Ashwin saw him hitting boundaries with precision, and he equally dished out punishment to Boult by scoring 37 off just 15 balls, providing much-needed momentum to SRH’s innings.
However, Boult recovered to send Aiden Markram back to the pavilion shortly after his earlier breakthroughs, reducing SRH to 57 for three after five overs. The loss of early wickets necessitated a rebuilding effort, which saw Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen coming together to stabilize the innings. While Head found his feet by gradually ticking the scoreboard, Klaasen provided flamboyance with a massive six over mid-wicket in the eighth over against Chahal.
Yet, RR’s bowlers kept clawing back, and Sandeep Sharma eventually prompted an edgy shot from Head, caught at third man, while Avesh Khan’s incisive bowling struck twice in a single over. A reverse sweep saw Nitish Reddy fall, followed immediately by Abdul Samad getting bowled. With Chahal’s impressive fielding, catching three outfielders in crucial moments, RR seemed poised to restrict a significant SRH total.
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Nevertheless, Klaasen remained firm at the crease, steering SRH’s innings past turbulent waters. His crucial half-century off 33 balls, paired with contributions from Shahbaz Ahmed, who emerged as an Impact Player, pushed SRH to a defendable 175 for nine. For RR, the disciplined effort from Sandeep and Avesh proved vital, each claiming important wickets.
As RR embarked on their chase, the onus was on their star batter Yashaswi Jaiswal to provide a solid start, and he did not disappoint, targeting Bhuvneshwar Kumar with a colossal six in the opening over. Despite the optimism, SRH’s bowlers were relentless. Cummins spearheaded the attack by dismissing Tom Kohler-Cadmore, creating an early blow for RR.
With Jaiswal leading the chase, RR looked promising by reaching 51 for one by the end of the powerplay. However, SRH’s spinners came into play, applying significant pressure in the middle overs. Shahbaz, interjecting with strategic spins, dismissed Jaiswal for a well-earned 42 off just 21 balls.
An inspired spell by Abhishek saw RR captain Sanju Samson misjudge a lofty shot, only to find himself caught by Markram. Shahbaz continued to dominate with a double wicket over, as RR faltered to 80 for five by the 12th over. The subsequent wickets further tilted the game in SRH’s favor.
Despite late resistance from Dhruv Jurel, who managed to achieve his fifty in mere 26 balls, the steep target set by SRH proved insurmountable. The combined prowess of Shahbaz and Abhishek, claiming five wickets and bowling economically, ensured RR could not regain momentum.
This spectacular victory earned SRH a rematch against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final, setting the stage for an intense showdown on Sunday at Chennai. The Sunrisers Hyderabad faithful now await, with bated breath, their moment of potential glory in the IPL 2024.