Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) redeemed themselves on their second shot at reaching the IPL 2024 final, clinching a commanding victory over Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 on Friday at the Chennai venue. Now, they gear up to face fellow former champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the ultimate showdown on Sunday.
After enduring a heavy defeat at the hands of two-time champions KKR in Qualifier 1, the 2016 title holders SRH rallied back, especially bolstering their bowling attack, to eliminate Rajasthan from the tournament with a convincing 36-run win.
SRH posted a competitive total of 175 for 9, propelled by Heinrich Klassen's brisk 34-ball 50. In reply, Rajasthan faltered, managing only 139 for 7 as Shahbaz Ahmed (3 for 23) and Abhishek Sharma (2 for 24) spun a web, dismantling the Royals' batting line-up.
In a post-match video shared by SRH, skipper Pat Cummins reflected on the game, showering praise on the spin duo and issuing a subtle warning to KKR. "It was a fantastic performance tonight. We set a target of around 170 (175 for 9) with the bat. Though we aimed for a bit more, our bowlers stepped up brilliantly, especially Abhishek and Shahbaz, who were exceptional and crucial in the middle overs, limiting them to... (139 for 7)," Cummins remarked from the SRH dressing room at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
The captain is PUMPED for the #IPL2024 final #PlayWithFire #SRHvRR pic.twitter.com/Xe0zJeZFyS— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) May 24, 2024
"As we head into the final in just 48 hours, rest assured, the team is brimming with enthusiasm! See you there," he concluded with a spirited declaration.
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