In a thrilling encounter at Chennai’s M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) successfully powered their way to the final of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 by defeating Rajasthan Royals (RR) with a decisive 36-run margin in Qualifier 2. Taking the initial advantage with the bat, SRH posted a total of 175 runs, which their bowlers dutifully defended with a spectacular performance.
Upon winning the toss, Rajasthan Royals invited Sunrisers Hyderabad to take the first strike. True to their aggressive form seen throughout the TATA IPL 2024, SRH pressed forward with intent in the opening ten overs despite facing wickets tumbling in the powerplay. Pacer Trent Boult was the wrecker-in-chief for RR, drawing first blood by dismissing Abhishek Sharma, who had initially shown promise with a smashing six and followed it by a four. However, Boult’s relentless accuracy led Sharma to a poorly judged shot, resulting in a catch on the off-side.
Travis Head, showing composure, settled in with cautious early innings while his partner, Rahul Tripathi, took charge with an aggressive batting display. Unfazed by the opposition’s bowling, Tripathi took on the bowlers fiercely. When R Ashwin came on to bowl his second over, Tripathi quickly pierced the third man for a four, albeit shakily. Continuing his attack, Tripathi dispatched Boult for boundaries and struck Ashwin for multiple fours and a six when the latter returned. Tripathi, with a brisk 37 off just 15 balls, dramatically boosted SRH’s scoring rate before succumbing to another strategic slower delivery by Boult, leading to his wicket at short third-man.
Boult’s impressive spell continued as he claimed another crucial wicket, that of Aiden Markram who was neatly caught by Yuzvendra Chahal at short third-man. By the end of five overs, SRH stood at 57 for the loss of three wickets. Travis Head, finding his rhythm, formed a vital partnership with Heinrich Klaasen to stabilize the innings. Head registered his first boundary in the sixth over, off Sandeep Sharma. Meanwhile, Klaasen demonstrated his power-hitting capabilities by launching Chahal’s delivery into the midwicket stands during the eighth over. However, a momentary lapse saw Head offering a catch to the third man off Sandeep Sharma’s delivery, bringing an end to his innings.
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As the match progressed into its latter stages, Klaasen anchored SRH, ensuring that the team reached a formidable total despite losing regular wickets. In a key moment, Avesh Khan’s dual strikes in the 14th over saw Nitish Reddy caught at third-man, followed by Abdul Samad being bowled first ball. However, Klaasen’s relentless onslaught saw him race to his half-century off 33 deliveries, the underlying force in SRH’s climb to 175 for nine wickets. In the final stages, the introduction of Shahbaz Ahmed, who contributed 18 crucial runs as an Impact Player, along with vital contributions from SRH’s tail-enders, pushed the innings to a challenging total. For RR, Sandeep Sharma and Boult were the standout bowlers, taking two and three wickets respectively, with Avesh Khan also chipping in with three critical wickets.
Entering the chase, Rajasthan opener Yashaswi Jaiswal showcased his flair by launching Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a six early on. Despite a steady start that saw RR reaching 51 for one at the end of the powerplay, the game quickly tilted in SRH’s favor as their spinners spun a web around the RR batsmen. Shahbaz Ahmed provided the breakthrough by removing Jaiswal for an enterprising 42 off 21 balls. The momentum further shifted when Sanju Samson fell prey to Abhishek Sharma, caught at deep mid-wicket by Markram.
As the overs ticked by, SRH’s spin duo tightened their stranglehold on RR, with Shahbaz securing key wickets in the 12th over. RR’s middle order struggled under sustained pressure as Riyan Parag and Ashwin were both dismissed in quick succession, denting any hopes of a successful chase. Once stationed at 80 for five after 12 overs, RR found itself with a mountain to climb.
Despite Shimron Hetmyer’s entry as an Impact Player, and Rovman Powell’s presence, the SRH bowlers allowed no room for freedom of play, as both found scoring difficult. Only Dhruv Jurel presented a semblance of resistance, showcasing his fighting spirit with a courageous half-century in the face of adversity. However, with wickets clattering around him, Jurel’s valiant efforts proved insufficient as the game slipped away, leaving RR’s chase in tatters.
The pivotal performance from SRH’s left-arm spin duo, Shahbaz Ahmed and Abhishek Sharma, who claimed five wickets between them while conceding just 47 runs in their combined eight overs, underscored the match’s turning point. With this commanding victory, SRH earned the right to face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a much-anticipated title clash, rekindling the rivalry from Qualifier 1. The epic showdown is set for Sunday at the same venue in Chennai, promising a fitting finale to an enthralling season.