In a thrilling display of T20 cricket, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) secured a place in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 final with a commanding 36-run triumph over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the highly anticipated Qualifier 2 match held in Chennai. By opting to bat first, SRH set a competitive target of 175 runs, a total which their bowlers managed to defend staunchly, etching a memorable performance in the annals of IPL history.
RR captain won the toss and invited SRH to bat first, a decision they soon might have reconsidered. Following their aggressive strategy showcased throughout the tournament, the Sunrisers came out with all guns blazing in the first ten overs. Despite losing a few wickets in the powerplay, SRH maintained their attacking intent. The RR camp saw early success with Trent Boult’s impressive bowling, staking his claim in the game by dismantling the opposition’s top order.
Boult started the onslaught against SRH by dispatching Abhishek Sharma back to the pavilion after Sharma’s initial promising start, which included a six over mid-wicket. Sharma was eventually lured into a false shot, resulting in an easy catch on the off-side. Meanwhile, SRH’s Rahul Tripathi played aggressively, counterbalancing Travis Head’s more measured approach. Tripathi looked in sublime form as he took on RR bowlers fearlessly, showcasing his class with some exquisite boundaries, a result of clever shot placements and speedy running between the wickets.
Tripathi’s exceptional drive against R Ashwin and a thumping six off Boult were standout moments of the match. However, he was eventually undone by Boult with a clever slower ball, tricking him into another ambitious stroke that ended in the hands of the third-man fielder. Despite this, Tripathi’s brisk innings of 37 off just 15 balls was pivotal in providing the Sunrisers the initial thrust they needed.
The dismissal of Aiden Markram by Boult, courtesy of an envious catch by Yuzvendra Chahal at short third-man, pegged SRH back to 57 for three off five overs. A rebuilding phase was then orchestrated by Head and Heinrich Klaasen, who together consolidated the innings. Head played cautiously to adjust to the pitch conditions before chipping in with timely boundaries, while Klaasen found his rhythm more quickly, depositing Chahal over mid-wicket for a six in the eighth over.
The middle phase saw Rajasthan’s bowlers attempting a comeback, with Avesh Khan executing a double strike in the 14th over. Nitish Reddy fell for his trap, caught by Chahal once again, now marking his third catch of the match.
. Following a baffling first-ball dismissal of Abdul Samad, Klaasen held his ground firmly, steering SRH to safety.
In a dramatic showdown, Klaasen achieved his half-century off 33 balls in the 18th over and, with support from Shahbaz Ahmed – introduced as an Impact Player – brought SRH to a defendable 175 for nine. Ahmed’s brisk 18-run cameo, together with some disciplined bowling figures from Sandeep (two for 25) and Avesh (three for 27), proved vital for the Royals. Notably, Boult’s three-wicket haul was a pivotal element in keeping SRH’s score in check.
As RR began their chase, Yashaswi Jaiswal emerged as their beacon of hope. Showing an array of strokes, he scored top-notch runs off SRH’s spearhead Bhuvneshwar Kumar, including a mighty six over mid-wicket. However, SRH was quick to respond. The breakthrough came when Pat Cummins dismissed Tom Kohler-Cadmore, preventing RR from creating a significant opening partnership.
With spinners dominating the middle stretch, SRH pushed Rajasthan Royals into submission. Shahbaz Ahmed’s pivotal catch of Jaiswal at deep was a momentum shifter. Abhishek Sharma and Markram soon joined the party, capturing RR’s captain, Sanju Samson.
The match slipped further from RR’s grasp as Shahbaz spun a web, striking twice to pin the Royals at 80 for five in 12 overs. Any late resurgence seemed improbable. Despite Shimron Hetmyer’s introduction as an Impact Player, SRH spinners maintained a stranglehold, leaving RR struggling to gain ground. Dhruv Jurel, encapsulating resilience, brought some joy with a gritty half-century but could only delay the inevitable.
The combined effort of SRH’s bowlers, notably their two left-arm spinners Shahbaz and Abhishek, who collectively collected five wickets while conceding only 47 runs over eight overs, secured an emphatic victory for Sunrisers Hyderabad. They now stare at a rematch of Qualifier 1 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the finals, a tantalizing fixture set to unfold on Sunday in Chennai, promising yet another cricketing spectacle.