In a thrilling encounter that had cricket fans on the edge of their seats, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) clinched a place in the final of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 by defeating Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 36 runs in the Qualifier 2 held in Chennai. The victory was achieved through a blend of strategic batting and formidable bowling that kept RR at bay, ensuring SRH booked their much-anticipated spot in the final.
Opting to bat first after RR won the toss and chose to field, SRH quickly established their aggressive gameplay, a characteristic they have consistently showcased throughout this season. Even amidst the loss of early wickets during the powerplay, their intent never wavered. The early assault was halted momentarily by Trent Boult, whose impactful bowling caused early tremors in the Hyderabad camp. Abhishek Sharma started with a six over mid-wicket, which he followed with a swift four, but Boult struck back by compelling a mishit from Sharma, which was seamlessly grabbed on the off-side.
Travis Head and Rahul Tripathi took charge next. While Head took time to settle, Tripathi’s innings were characterized by fearless shot-making. He took the attack to every bowler, including seasoned spinner R Ashwin, whom he dispatched for multiple boundaries, peppering the third-man region and beyond. Boult, returning for another spell, was not spared either, as Tripathi continued his assault with a scorching display of fours and sixes, only to fall eventually to a cunning slower ball that he edged to third-man. Tripathi’s explosive 37 off just 15 balls provided SRH with crucial momentum.
Boult continued his spell of excellence by dismissing Aiden Markram, caught by a sharp Yuzvendra Chahal at short third-man, leaving SRH at a precarious 57 for 3 after five overs. It was then that Head and Heinrich Klaasen embarked on a mission to rebuild. Head, after a slow start, broke his silence with a boundary off Sandeep Sharma in the sixth over. Klaasen made his mark by launching Chahal over mid-wicket for a six in the eight over and then took the innings forward in the following overs.
RR bowlers made regular inroads, curtailing SRH’s charge through calculated strikes. Avesh Khan delivered crucial blows in the 14th over, dismissing Nitish Reddy, who had his reverse-sweep attempt land safely in the hands of a waiting fielder at third-man — a perfect third catch for Chahal. Abdul Samad was incapacitated the very next ball, bowled for naught.
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However, Klaasen’s resolve was unwavering. He orchestrated SRH’s innings superbly, elevating their total from a worrying 120 for 6 to a more defensible 175 for 9. Klaasen’s half-century, which came off a brisk 33 balls, turned the tide back in SRH’s favor, with Shahbaz Ahmed lending valuable support as an Impact Player, contributing a vital 18 runs. For RR, Boult (3 wickets), Sandeep Sharma (2 for 25), and Avesh Khan (3 for 27) performed commendably.
Chasing 176 was never going to be an easy task for RR, especially against a fiery SRH bowling attack. Yashaswi Jaiswal began with aplomb, hitting Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a towering six. He dominated early, lighting up the innings with a flurry of boundaries. However, SRH’s breakthrough came at the hands of Pat Cummins, who removed Tom Kohler-Cadmore with precision.
The SRH spinners, though, swung the game decisively towards their side. Shahbaz Ahmed and Abhishek Sharma spun webs that ensnared RR’s lineup, turning pressure into wickets. Shahbaz dismissed the dangerous Jaiswal for 42 off 21 balls, followed closely by Sanju Samson who lobbed one to the outfield, caught by Markram.
Their grip tightened further in the 12th over, where two more RR wickets fell to Shahbaz: Riyan Parag fell trying to play a big shot, and Ashwin silently edged behind.
Reduced to 80 for 5, RR had no recovery in sight. Despite Shimron Hetmyer’s entry as an Impact Player, SRH bowlers thwarted any resurgence. It was only Dhruv Jurel’s brave fifty, scored off just 26 deliveries, that provided some resistance, but by that point, the contest was all but decided in SRH’s favor.
With spin proving to be RR’s undoing, Shahbaz and Abhishek’s eight-over spell collectively yielded five wickets for just 47 runs, sealing a comprehensive victory. This triumph has set SRH up for an exhilarating rematch against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL 2024 final, scheduled to be held on Sunday in Chennai. As the sun sets on Chennai this weekend, all eyes will be on SRH, who look to cap their campaign with the coveted trophy.