In a thrilling encounter that has left cricket fans on the edge of their seats, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) cemented their place in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 final with a convincing 36-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2. The match took place at the iconic venue in Chennai, where SRH set a formidable target, demonstrating their determination and skill in both batting and bowling.
The match started with Rajasthan Royals winning the toss and opting to bowl, a decision that seemed apt considering the pace attack they retained in their lineup. On the other side, Sunrisers Hyderabad came out with their characteristic aggressive intent, which has been their hallmark throughout the TATA IPL 2024 season. Despite facing a few setbacks during the powerplay, the team appeared undeterred.
Trent Boult, displaying his seasoned prowess, gave Rajasthan Royals an early advantage. When the skilled Abhishek Sharma struck a six over mid-wicket and a subsequent four, Boult responded by compelling an error from Sharma, leading to his dismissal in the opening over. The early setback did little to break Sunrisers’ spirit, as Rahul Tripathi stepped in to infuse momentum into the innings while partner Travis Head concentrated on Solidifying their effort.
Tripathi, in an astonishing display of batting, was unrelenting irrespective of the bowler’s skill. With Ravi Ashwin coming into the attack, Tripathi deftly maneuvered the ball with a four through third-man. Trent Boult once again bore the brunt of Tripathi’s bold batting, as Tripathi collected consecutive boundaries. However, Boult’s persistence reaped dividends again when he dismissed Tripathi for 37 runs off just 15 balls, a contribution that provided critical early impetus to SRH’s innings.
The middle overs witnessed increased pressure from RR, as Boult continued his fine performance by dismissing Aiden Markram, caught out by a sharp Yuzvendra Chahal. The middle order for SRH, featuring Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen, took on the task of rebuilding the innings. Klaasen gradually found his rhythm, and his strategic play became evident when he launched Chahal for a six over mid-wicket.
As the innings progressed into the latter stages, SRH batsmen were curbed by some disciplined RR bowling.
. Avesh Khan excelled by claiming crucial wickets in the 14th over, first with a stunning catch by Chahal to dismiss Nitish Reddy, and then bowling Abdul Samad first ball. Klaasen, however, was a steady presence, guiding SRH past the 120-mark despite periodic wicket losses. He registered his half-century off 33 deliveries, anchoring the innings to a competitive total of 175 for nine, with Shahbaz Ahmed, coming in as an Impact Player, contributing a swift 18 runs.
Rajasthan’s response, led by Yashaswi Jaiswal, began promisingly with a big hit over mid-wicket in the first over against Bhuvneshwar Kumar. However, SRH quickly found their stride when Pat Cummins removed Tom Kohler-Cadmore. The initial powerplay concluded with RR well-placed at 51 for one, with Jaiswal exhibiting his batting prowess.
The momentum decidedly shifted as SRH spinners tightened the screws on RR’s middle order. The crucial dismissal came when Shahbaz Ahmed claimed Jaiswal’s wicket, caught in the deep in the eighth over, following which RR’s captain, Sanju Samson, succumbed to Abhishek’s spin, caught by Markram.
A pivotal moment arrived when Shahbaz engineered a double breakthrough in the 12th over, capturing Riyan Parag and Ashwin consecutively. This maneuver left RR struggling at 80 for five, unable to recover the momentum. The introduction of Shimron Hetmyer as an Impact Player failed to pay dividends, as SRH’s bowlers maintained their vice-like grip, particularly stymying Hetmyer and Rovman Powell.
Only Dhruv Jurel offered some resistance in an otherwise faltering chase, reaching his fifty in a determined fashion in the penultimate over. Unfortunately for RR, his efforts weren’t enough to thwart SRH’s pace-oriented attack, which firmly controlled the game’s final phase. Shahbaz and Abhishek, the left-arm spin duo, emerged as the architects of SRH’s success, collectively seizing five wickets while conceding a mere 47 runs in eight critical overs.
This victory paved the way for Sunrisers Hyderabad to meet Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the much-anticipated final. As fans eagerly await the showdown in Chennai, SRH’s clinical performance has set a high standard, promising an exhilarating contest for the IPL title.