IPL 2024: Pat Cummins into another final as SRH choke RR, set up title clash vs KKR

SunRisers ended their 5-year wait for a place in the final of the Indian Premier League as the 2016 champions outclassed Rajasthan in Qualifier 2 in Chennai on Friday, May 24.

Pat Cummins was brilliant on the big day as captain as SunRisers successfully defended a 175-run target and won by 36 runs to set up a final date with the Knight Riders at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.

The conditions in Chennai played their part as the dew did not arrive, contrary to expectations, in Chennai, making life difficult for the Rajasthan batters in their failed chase.

It was an all-round effort from SunRisers as Heinrich Klaasen’s fifty and a masterclass of spin-bowling from two youngsters — Abhishek Sharma and Shahbaz Ahmed — helped the Cummins-led side storm into the final. It was a huge disappointment for Rajasthan as they crashed out of the tournament despite beating RCB in the Eliminator.

Eventually, the teams that finished in the top two on the IPL 2024 points table reached the final. While KKR took the direct route to Chennai after hammering SRH in Ahmedabad, SRH eventually got there, giving themselves an opportunity to seek revenge.

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC CUMMINS
Knowing that they had a par total on the board on a pitch that was taking more turn in the second innings, Pat Cummins threw the ball to his part-time spinners Shahbaz Ahmed and Abhishek Sharma. Eyebrows were raised when SRH did not name a frontline spinner in the XI after dropping Sri Lanka’s Vijaykanth Viyaskanth.

However, Shahbaz Ahmed came in as the Impact Player in the first innings to add a bit of beef to their batting order. And he turned out to be the match-winner as he got the big wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag and R Ashwin. It was a brainfade from Yashasvi as the World Cup-bound India opener threw it away after getting to 42 off 21 balls.

Meanwhile, Abhishek Sharma, who did not set the stage on fire with the bat, was given an over and he delivered by getting the huge wicket of Sanju Samson. The young opener was allowed to complete his quota of four overs and he delivered with two big wickets – Samson and Shimron Hetmyer.

The rookie spinners outperformed the experienced R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal on the big day in Chennai.

SRH Spinners (Shahbaz and Abhishek) – 8 overs, 4 wickets, 47 runs

RR Spinners (Ashwin and Chahal) – 8 overs, 0 wickets, 77 runs

Earlier in the day, SunRisers captain Cummisn did not look pleased when the toss did not go his way. There was prediction of dew, considering how the moisture on the outfield had impacted games earlier in the season.

And it was Trent Boult who did the damage with the new ball after Abhishek Sharma threw it away in the first over despite racing to 12. Abhishek hit a six and a boundary and paid the price for taking a risk again while staying true to his aggressive approach.

RAHUL TRIPATHI MASTERCLASS
Travis Head, who has been one of the most aggressive batters in the tournament, struggled on a sluggish pitch. Head was happy to play second fiddle as Rahul Tripathi continued his golden run with the bat after having coming into the season in the business end. Tripathi was brave against the Rajasthan spinners as he took down R Ashwin, who found success against RCB in the Eliminator.

Rahul Tripathi scored 18 runs against R Ashwin and made sure the hometown hero did not get enough opportunities to bowl against Travis Head — his favourable match-up. Despite losing Abhishek in the first over, SRH raced to 45 in just four overs.

Trent Boult bought RR back into the contest with the big wicket of Rahul Tripathi in the fifth over with a slower ball that Tripathi cut straight to Yuzvendra Chahal — the short third man. Tripathi was gutted for throwing his wicket away after getting off to a roaring start, hitting 37 off just 15 balls.

Aiden Markram also fell in the same over as the South Africa star disappointed on his return to the side. The former SRH captain was out for just 1 as Boult rattled the SRH top-order with 3 wickets in the powerplay.

Travis Head found momentum only after the powerplay in a strange deviation from the usual pattern as the Australian World Cup hero was the aggressor in the first six overs in the past. However, Head was undone by Sandeep Sharma in the 10th over of the contest, once again with a slower ball. Head managed just 34 runs off 28 balls.

SRH slipped to 120 for 6 as Avesh Khan joined the party, getting the big wickets of Nitish Kumar Reddy and Abdul Samaad in successive deliveries in the 14th over.

However, Heinrich Klaasen played a mature knock, hitting 50 off 33 balls. Shahbaz Ahmed gave him wonderful support, chipping in with a crucial 18. Klaasen’s knock of 50 proved to be the difference between the two teams in the end as the South African superstar showcased that he can adapt to the conditions and deliver with the bat.