In a thrilling encounter at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Rajasthan Royals defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by 5 wickets to book their place in the final of IPL 2024.
Batting first, SRH posted a competitive total of 177/7, thanks to a brilliant 67 off 41 balls from Abhishek Sharma and a quickfire 37 off 18 from Heinrich Klaasen. For RR, Trent Boult was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/30.
In response, RR got off to a flying start with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson adding 72 runs for the opening wicket. Jaiswal scored a 28-ball 45 while Samson made 39 off 27 deliveries. However, SRH fought back with quick wickets to reduce RR to 114/4. But Riyan Parag played a sensational knock of 51 not out off just 25 balls to take RR over the line with 2 balls to spare.
Key Performances
- Abhishek Sharma (SRH): The left-handed opener continued his fine form with a 41-ball 67, laced with 7 fours and 3 sixes. His innings laid the foundation for SRH’s competitive total.
- Heinrich Klaasen (SRH): Coming in at no.6, the South Africa wicketkeeper batter smashed 37 off just 18 balls to propel SRH past 170. His late onslaught included 4 sixes.
- Trent Boult (RR): The veteran New Zealand pacer was brilliant with the new ball, dismissing the dangerous Travis Head and Rahul Tripathi in his first overs. He finished with impressive figures of 3/30 from his 4 overs.
- Riyan Parag (RR): When RR was in trouble at 114/4 while chasing 178, Parag played a sensational cameo of 51* off just 25 balls to take his team home. His innings included 5 fours and 3 sixes.
Match-turning moment
The match turned in RR’s favor when Parag launched a brutal assault on the SRH bowlers in the death overs. With 64 needed off the last 5 overs, Parag smashed 3 sixes and a four off Bhuveneshwar Kumar’s 18th over to bring the equation down to 34 off 12 balls. This over proved to be the difference between the two teams in the end.
What went wrong for SRH
- SRH’s spinners, especially Vijayaknath Viyaskanth, struggled to contain the RR batters on a good batting track. They conceded 92 runs in their 8 overs without taking a wicket.
- The SRH bowlers, barring Natarajan, failed to execute their yorkers and slower balls in the death overs. Parah took full advantage to take RR home.
- SRH’s decision to send Shahbaz Ahmed ahead of Klaasen didn’t pay off as Ahmed could manage only 8 runs off 11 balls.
What went right for RR
- RR’s decision to open with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson paid off as they added 72 runs in just 7.1 overs to give RR a flying start.
- Trent Boult’s brilliant new-ball spell put RR on top early in the chase. His wickets of Head and Tripathi pegged SRH back.
- Riyan Parag’s sensational innings under pressure took RR over the line in a tense chase. His 51* off 25 balls was the difference between the two teams.
Conclusion
It was a thrilling encounter between two evenly matched-teams. SRH posted a competitive total, but RR’s bowlers, especially Boult, kept them in check. In the chase, RR’s openers gave them a flying start, but SRH fought back to make it interesting. However, Parag’s heroics in the death overs proved to be the decisive factor as RR booked their place in the final.