Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 175/9 in 20 overs, where as Rajasthan Royals scored 139/7 in 20 overs.
So, finally Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Rajasthan Royals by 36 runs.
Led by the left-arm spin duo of Abhishek Sharma and Shahbaz Ahmed, Sunrisers Hyderabad successfully defended their total of 175 for 9, securing a 36-run victory over Rajasthan Royals in Chennai on Friday.
With this triumph, they halted Royals’ campaign in IPL 2024 and booked a spot in the final against Kolkata Knight Riders.
The middle overs proved pivotal in deciding the outcome.
Both teams encountered a loss of momentum during this phase, preventing them from accelerating as desired in the death overs.
However, the impact was more pronounced for one side than the other, highlighting a contrasting narrative.
While SRH batsmen faced a stern challenge from the RR pacers, who varied their lengths effectively and utilized change of pace, RR struggled to contend with the spin and turn generated by the SRH spinners.
Pursuing a modest target, Royals not only lost five wickets in the middle overs but also found boundaries hard to come by, scoring at a rate below a run-a-ball.
This lack of momentum severely impeded their run chase and ultimately played a significant role in their defeat.
| Teams | SRH | RR |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 64/3 | 51/5 |
| Run Rate | 7.11 | 5.64 |
| 4s/6s | 1 and 4 | 3 and 2 |
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Powerplay: Boult strikes overshadow Tripathi blitz
SRH: 68/3 (RR: 11:33; 8x4s, 3x6s)
The early phase of the match was dominated by another impressive spell from Trent Boult.
The left-arm pacer set the tone by dismissing Abhishek in the first over, followed by catching Rahul Tripathi and Aiden Markram at short third off Yuzvendra Chahal’s bowling in the third over.
Despite the Royal’s exceptional fielding, especially by Chahal, who was involved in numerous plays, Tripathi managed to counterattack against Boult and R Ashwin, scoring a quickfire 37 off 15 balls before falling while attempting an upper-cut to a delivery above his head.
Travis Head, who entered the game after two consecutive ducks, faced a slow start, playing only eight deliveries in the first five overs.
Middle overs: Sandeep, Avesh plug the runs
SRH: 64/3 (RR: 7:11; 1x4s, 4x6s)
Even with Head attempting to break free after Boult’s departure, the pacers – Sandeep Sharma and Avesh Khan – maintained a tight line and length, making it difficult for the batters to score, especially with their slower variations.
Head, trying to open up, became the third batter to be caught at short fine leg, while Avesh dismissed Nitish Reddy and Abdul Samad in successive deliveries during the 14th over.
Heinrich Klaasen, who came to bat during the powerplay, struggled to accelerate in the middle overs but managed to hold the innings together amidst the falling wickets.
Death overs: Sandeep, Avesh plug the runs
SRH: 43/3 (RR: 8:60; 2x4s, 2x6s)
Except for a couple of sixes in the 17th and 18th over and some strategic running between the wickets, which hinted at a late surge, SRH failed to capitalize in the death overs.
However, despite the scarcity of boundaries, Klaasen ensured valuable runs through quick singles and doubles, which proved crucial in the end.
Sandeep Sharma returned for his final spell, dismissing Klaasen with a yorker.
Shahbaz Ahmed, who came in as an Impact Substitute, couldn’t provide the required impetus in the latter overs, resulting in SRH finishing with a below-par total.
Rajasthan Royals
Powerplay: Yashasvi breaks free after a slow start
RR: 51/1 (RR: 8:50; 6x4s, 2x6s)
Pat Cummins and Bhuvneshwar Kumar stifled Rajasthan Royals’ start with a disciplined bowling display, mixing up lengths effectively.
Cummins even had Tom Kohler-Cadmore mistiming a shot to cover point.
With only 32 runs scored in the first five overs, Yashasvi Jaiswal broke free in the final over of the powerplay, smashing three boundaries and a six off Bhuvneshwar to compensate for the sluggish start.
Middle overs: Spinners put the brakes
RR: 51/5 (RR: 5:64; 3x4s, 2x6s)
SRH’s supposed weak link, the fifth bowler’s quota, turned out to be their strength, crippling RR’s run chase.
Despite the absence of dew on the outfield and a drying pitch, Abhishek Sharma and Shahbaz Ahmed exploited the turn and grip on offer.
The spin duo claimed five wickets in their eight-over spell, conceding runs at a meager rate.
Jaiswal, Samson, and Parag were dismissed after mistiming their shots, while Ashwin and Hetmyer were also sent back.
Death overs: Jurel fights it out in vain
RR: 37/1 (RR: 7:40; 4x4s, 1x6s)
SRH pacers complemented the spinners’ efforts by adopting a similar strategy that had earlier troubled Royals’ batters – varying pace and bowling length deliveries.
Dhruv Jurel fought hard, but with Rovman Powell failing to support from the other end and a brittle lower order, his unbeaten 56 off 35 balls wasn’t enough to rescue Royals as the required run rate kept escalating beyond reach.
Leave a Reply