In a high-octane clash of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) emerged victorious over Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 36 runs in Qualifier 2, thereby securing their berth in the final. Played at Chennai’s storied Chepauk Stadium, the match saw SRH defend a competitive total of 175, successfully paving their way to the championship face-off.
Opting to bowl first, Rajasthan Royals seemed optimistic, inviting SRH to set the target. True to their aggressive reputation in the current IPL season, SRH’s batsmen took to attacking early in the innings, showcasing their intent within the first 10 overs. Despite losing wickets in the powerplay, they maintained momentum. Key to this initial assault was Trent Boult from RR, who played a pivotal role in dismantling SRH’s top order. The short-lived attacking stint saw Abhishek Sharma begin with a flamboyant six over mid-wicket, complemented by a controlled four. However, Boult curtailed his aggression, inducing a misstep that resulted in Sharma falling early.
Travis Head, albeit slow to start, established a calm at one end while Rahul Tripathi, embodying determination, led the charge aggressively at the other. Tripathi adapted fluidly to the bowlers’ varied deliveries, notably launching a boundary off R Ashwin’s over. Maintaining the aggression, he continued to exploit Boult’s deliveries with tactical boundaries. Despite his impactful 37 off 15 balls, Tripathi succumbed to a subtle slower delivery from Boult, guiding it straight to short third-man. With Boult dispatching Aiden Markram soon after, SRH found themselves at a precarious 57 for three at the end of five overs.
In the ensuing consolidation period, Head partnered with Heinrich Klaasen to stabilize the innings. Head, breaking his initial silence, capitalized on Sandeep Sharma’s delivery for a boundary, while Klaasen showcased resilience by lofting a six off Chahal. Despite sustaining a blow themselves when Head edged a shot to Sandeep at third-man, Klaasen steadied SRH, ensuring the score ticked forward.
The pivotal final 10 overs of SRH’s innings saw Klaasen orchestrate a revival, lifting the team from a potentially unguarded 120 for six to a formidable 175 for nine.
. Notably, Avesh Khan’s 14th over was punctuated by wickets, as Nitish Reddy fell to a reverse sweep and Abdul Samad was bowled first-ball, marking the dominance of RR’s fielding with Yuzvendra Chahal’s third catch. Nevertheless, Klaasen continued leading an audacious charge, reaching his half-century off just 33 balls. In a bid for acceleration, Shahbaz Ahmed, introduced as an Impact Player, contributed a quickfire 18, rounding off SRH’s innings with a decent total. For RR’s bowlers, Sandeep Sharma (two for 25) and Avesh (three for 27), along with Boult, were standout performers.
The chase saw RR beginning with promise, as Yashaswi Jaiswal opened RR’s account with a towering six off Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Although the start was challenging, Pat Cummins’ breakthrough against Tom Kohler-Cadmore crippled RR’s advance early. Nevertheless, the effervescent Jaiswal struck Bhuvneshwar with consecutive boundaries, propelling RR to 51 for one at the end of the powerplay, with balanced promise.
As the innings transitioned to the middle overs, SRH sought strength in spin, with bowlers seizing dominion. Shahbaz Ahmed broke the rhythm RR attempted to establish, dismissing Jaiswal who had aggressively compiled a brisk 42 off 21 balls. In a surprising twist, Abhishek’s introduction pinned further restraint on RR, persuading Sanju Samson to misjudge a lofted shot to long-on, caught by Markram.
Persistent pressure from SRH’s spin department, especially Shahbaz, gaining two crucial wickets in his 12th over, halted RR’s momentum. At the conclusion of 12 overs, RR stumbled to a vulnerable 80 for five, floundering under SRH’s strategic stranglehold.
Despite valiant attempts for a resurgence, with Shimron Hetmyer entering as Impact Player and Rovman Powell striving for engagement, SRH’s bowling ensemble ensured containment. The lone fighter, Dhruv Jurel, resisted valiantly, amassing an assertive half-century off 26 balls amidst relentless pressure. Yet, his efforts fell shy as SRH adeptly controlled the narrative till the conclusion, solidifying a triumphant march to the Finals.
Remarkably, the left-arm spin duo Shahbaz and Abhishek emerged as architects of victory, amassing five wickets between them and controlling the flow of runs. Their economical eight-over joint spell granted SRH the impetus, gifting fans a tantalizing rematch against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the TATA IPL 2024 trophy in Chennai on Sunday.