In a thrilling display of cricket, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) carved their path to the final of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 by defeating Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 36 runs in a gripping Qualifier 2 match held in Chennai. SRH delivered a committed performance, posting a formidable total of 175 and subsequently, their bowlers executed a game plan that kept RR at bay, culminating in a memorable victory.
Electing to bowl first after winning the toss, RR invited SRH to set the target. Undeterred, SRH commenced their innings with an aggressive approach, a hallmark of their campaign throughout the TATA IPL 2024. Despite losing a couple of early wickets during the powerplay, SRH’s batsmen maintained their aggressive stance. Notably, Trent Boult spearheaded RR’s early attack, causing initial damage. Abhishek Sharma showed glimpses of aggression with a massive six over mid-wicket, followed by a boundary. However, Boult quickly retaliated, drawing a false shot from Sharma, resulting in a catch on the off-side.
Travis Head approached his innings cautiously while Rahul Tripathi, at the other end, launched a counterattack against the RR bowlers. Tripathi exhibited combative intent, targeting every bowler with a flurry of boundaries. He initiated his assault on R Ashwin with an edgy four through third-man and continued his aggression against Boult in the following overs. Tripathi’s resistance was momentarily halted when he aimed to clear Boult for another boundary, only to guide the delivery to short third-man. His explosive 37 off 15 balls provided crucial momentum to the SRH innings.
Boult’s prowess didn’t end there as he soon claimed the wicket of Aiden Markram, who edged a delivery to Yuzvendra Chahal at short third-man. At the end of five overs, SRH found themselves at 57 for three. From there, Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen embarked on rebuilding the innings. Though Head was initially silent, he broke through with his first boundary off Sandeep Sharma in the sixth over. Klaasen joined the act against Chahal, sending a delivery soaring over mid-wicket for six in the eighth over. As the innings progressed, Head succumbed to Sandeep, offering a catch at third-man.
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The second half of the innings witnessed Klaasen orchestrating SRH’s charge. RR kept striking back at regular intervals, but Klaasen’s persistence paid off as he shepherded SRH to a defendable total. Avesh Khan’s double strike in the 14th over, removing Nitish Reddy and Abdul Samad, gave RR hope, but Klaasen’s resilience remained unshaken. Taking SRH from a precarious 120 for six, Klaasen, with Shahbaz Ahmed playing a supporting role, ensured the team reached 175 for nine, providing their bowlers with a strong foundation to defend. Avesh Khan and Sandeep Sharma, with figures of three for 27 and two for 25 respectively, were standout performers, alongside Boult who also bagged three wickets.
As RR embarked on their chase, Yashaswi Jaiswal exhibited fine form, dispatching Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a six in the opening over. Despite early promise, RR’s innings stumbled when Pat Cummins dismissed Tom Kohler-Cadmore. Jaiswal’s flurry of boundaries in the sixth over off Bhuvneshwar carried RR to 51 for one by the close of the powerplay, with hopes pinned on his continued onslaught.
However, SRH’s spinners took charge during the middle overs, decisively shifting the match balance. Shahbaz Ahmed claimed the pivotal wicket of Jaiswal, caught in the deep after a brisk 42 off 21 balls. Shortly after, Abhishek Sharma struck, claiming Sanju Samson’s wicket with a catch at deep mid-wicket by Markram.
Maintaining relentless pressure, SRH spinners, spearheaded by Shahbaz, tightened their grip with key breakthroughs. In the 12th over, Shahbaz dismissed Riyan Parag and R Ashwin, reducing RR to 80 for five. RR struggled to recover from this onslaught, with Impact Player Shimron Hetmyer unable to unleash his potential and Rovman Powell subdued by disciplined bowling.
Dhruv Jurel stood as the lone warrior for RR, displaying commendable resolve under pressure. His innings, highlighted by a rapid fifty from 26 balls, offered RR a glimmer of hope, but SRH, by then, were poised to claim victory.
The duo of Shahbaz Ahmed and Abhishek Sharma proved vital, claiming five wickets in their combined eight overs for just 47 runs. Their stellar performances ensured SRH’s berth in the final, setting up a rematch against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the grand finale scheduled for Sunday in Chennai.