The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai witnessed a clinical performance by the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) as they outplayed the Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 36 runs in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2024. With this win, SRH have secured a spot in the much-anticipated final against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) which will be held at the same venue on May 26th.
Rajasthan Royals falter in the chase
Sent into bat after losing the toss, SRH posted a competitive total of 175/9 on the board. While the top order didn't fire for Hyderabad, a crucial knock of 53 runs from wicket-keeper Heinrich Klaasen and cameos from Abhishek Sharma (29) and Nicholas Pooran (24) helped them reach a defendable score.
In reply, RR's chase began on a shaky note as they lost their talismanic opener, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, early. While a belligerent knock of 49 runs from Yashasvi Jaiswal kept their hopes alive, the dismissal of the young prodigy triggered a batting collapse. SRH's spin duo of Shahbaz Ahmed and Abhishek Sharma ran riot, taking a combined five wickets and effectively shutting the door on RR's chances.
SRH bowling shines on a dry surface
The lack of dew on the Chennai pitch proved to be a major hurdle for RR as their batsmen struggled to score freely. Pat Cummins and T Natarajan also chipped in with crucial wickets, restricting RR to a paltry 139/7 in their 20 overs.
Key takeaways from the match
-SRH's spinners, Shahbaz Ahmed and Abhishek Sharma, were the heroes with the ball, showcasing exceptional control and picking up crucial wickets at regular intervals.
-Heinrich Klaasen's gritty fifty provided the much-needed stability to the SRH innings.
-The absence of dew on the pitch significantly aided the SRH bowlers, making it difficult for the RR batsmen to score freely.
Looking ahead to the final
The win over RR sets the stage for a thrilling final between SRH and KKR. Both teams have been in excellent form throughout the tournament, and it promises to be a close contest. Can SRH lift their third IPL trophy, or will KKR emerge victorious on the biggest stage? Cricket fans around the world eagerly await the answer on May 26th.
