In what turned out to be a gripping encounter, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) clinched a 36-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. This victory propels SRH into the final, where they will face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in what promises to be an electrifying contest.
Opting to bat first after being invited by RR, SRH showcased their aggressive batting intent that has characterized their campaign throughout the TATA IPL 2024 season. Setting a target of 175, SRH’s bowlers rose to the occasion, delivering a performance that would be fondly remembered for years to come.
The SRH innings began with a bang, as Abhishek Sharma set the pace with a massive six over mid-wicket. However, Trent Boult, in typical fashion, struck back immediately by inducing a false shot from Sharma, getting him caught on the off-side early in the game. Despite losing a few wickets in the powerplay, SRH maintained their aggressive approach. Travis Head and Rahul Tripathi led the rebuilding phase. Tripathi, in particular, was in combative form, taking on the RR bowlers with a spirited display of shots. He carved R Ashwin for a boundary through third-man and struck boundaries at will against Boult. Tripathi continued his assault on Ashwin and Boult, smashing two fours and a six off Ashwin in one over, and then a six and a four off Boult. His innings of 37 off 15 balls laid a strong foundation for SRH before he was dismissed, guiding a slower ball from Boult to short third-man.
Boult continued his domination by claiming Aiden Markram’s wicket next, with the latter edging to Yuzvendra Chahal at short third-man. Despite these setbacks, SRH stood resilient at 57 for three after five overs. Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen combined to stabilize the innings. Head found his rhythm with a boundary off Sandeep Sharma in the sixth over, while Klaasen showcased his intent with a powerful six over mid-wicket against Chahal in the eighth over.
Yet, a couple of quiet overs saw Head perishing while trying to force the pace, guiding a delivery from Sandeep to third-man. The climax of the innings saw Klaasen taking charge, lifting SRH from a precarious 120 for six to a defendable score. Klaasen reached his half-century off 33 balls during the 18th over, while Shahbaz Ahmed, brought in as an Impact Player, chipped in with a valuable 18 runs.
. SRH posted a competitive total of 175 for nine, courtesy of remarkable bowling performances from Sandeep (two for 25), Avesh Khan (three for 27), and Boult (three for 34).
Starting their run chase, RR looked promising with Yashaswi Jaiswal exhibiting great touch. In the very first over, Jaiswal sent Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s delivery soaring for a six over mid-wicket. The first few overs were challenging, with SRH tasting their first success when Pat Cummins accounted for Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s dismissal. Jaiswal continued to torment SRH bowlers, smashing three fours and a six off Bhuvneshwar in the sixth over. RR concluded the powerplay at 51 for one, with Jaiswal in sublime form.
However, the middle overs saw a dramatic shift, thanks to SRH’s resilient spinners. Shahbaz Ahmed provided the breakthrough by having Jaiswal caught in the deep for 42 off 21 balls in the eighth over. Abhishek Sharma’s bowling further tightened the noose as he dismissed Sanju Samson, who fell victim to a catch at deep mid-wicket by Markram.
SRH’s spinners maintained relentless pressure on RR, with Shahbaz tilting the game firmly in SRH’s favor through a double-wicket strike in the 12th over. Riyan Parag was caught at mid-wicket, followed by R Ashwin, who edged to the wicketkeeper. At 80 for five in 12 overs, SRH had the upper hand.
Despite the introduction of Shimron Hetmyer as an Impact Player, RR struggled to gain momentum. Rovman Powell found himself stifled, unable to break free from SRH’s stranglehold. Dhruv Jurel stood as the lone warrior for RR, exhibiting considerable temperament to reach his fifty off 26 balls by the penultimate over. However, by then, SRH was already en route to a convincing victory as the game moved towards its inevitable conclusion.
The combined efforts of Shahbaz Ahmed and Abhishek Sharma, who together took five wickets while conceding just 47 runs in eight overs, sealed the match in favor of SRH. This win secures SRH’s place in the final, setting up an exciting rematch with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.