IPL 2024: SRH bowlers take their team into final

SRH enters into IPL Final after 6 years

After a sensational season with bat, SRH bowlers have come to the party in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2024. The team could not get similar start from their dashing openers. They managed to put up 175 and bowlers, mainly, part-time spinners came good for them on the D-day. So, after a gap of 6 years, SRH reached finals. That too, after ending at 8th place in 2021, 2022 and at 10th place in 2023.

They managed to resurge from being a team written off for internal politics to a team that reached IPL Final in 2024. Pat Cummins proved to be an inspirational leader for the team with mentor Daniel Vettori bringing aggressive approach to forefront. In this match, RR won the toss and elected to field first. They counted on dew to flatten the pitch in second half but it rather spun square unlike other Chennai pitches.

Rahul Tripathi gave SRH momentum after early wickets with his superb cameo
Rahul Tripathi gave SRH momentum after early wickets with his superb cameo

SRH did not get a good start but Rahul Tripathi(37) made powerplay count. Conversely, Travis Head looked circumspect due to recent failures and ducks. He scored 34 runs from 28 balls. Heinrich Klaasen with a good 50 against spinners like Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal on a pitch that assisted spin and slow bowling, impressed everyone. Hence, SRH scored 175/9 in 20 overs.

Trent Boult(3/45), Avesh Khan(3/27), Sandeep Sharma(2/25) took wickets for RR and restricted SRH batters to a great extent. RR looked like favorites with score not being manageable to chase. But dew did not come down and it left pitch more favorable to spin. Hence, RR batters, mainly, middle order failed to score at required speed while their opener Yashasvi Jaiswal(42) did give a start.

Heinrich Klaasen gives SRH a good total against RR Spin
Heinrich Klaasen gives SRH a good total against RR Spin

Dhruv Jurel(56) tried his best but their consistent performers Riyan Parag(6) and Sanju Samson(10) failed. Also, opener Tom Kohler-Cadmore(10) killed powerplay momentum for RR. They managed to score only 139/7 in 20 overs losing to SRH by 36 runs. Shahbaz Ahmed with 18 runs and 3 wickets became Player of the Match for his all-round performance. SRH will face in-form KKR once again in Final after Qualifier 1 loss.

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