Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) secured a spot in the IPL final with a 36-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2 in Chennai on Friday, May 24, 2024.
Batting first, SRH posted 175 for nine, propelled by Heinrich Klaasen’s 34-ball 50 and contributions from Travis Head (34) and Rahul Tripathi (37). In response, RR managed only 139 for 7 in 20 overs, with Yashasvi Jaiswal (42) and Dhruv Jurel (56 not out) being the standout performers.
Here’s a look at the top batting performances of the match:
Heinrich Klaasen
For the second match in a row, Heinrich Klaasen stepped up early in the Powerplay. Known for his aggressive approach, Klaasen initially had to stabilize the innings. He demonstrated his prowess against spin by pulling Yuzvendra Chahal for a six over mid-wicket in the eighth over. Despite a period of four overs without a boundary, Klaasen maintained his composure and picked his moments to attack.
Klaasen’s calculated aggression was evident when he flat-batted a length ball from Chahal over long-off for an 89-meter six. He continued to dominate, hitting another six off Chahal and a full delivery from Trent Boult. Klaasen reached his fifty off 33 balls, crucially pushing SRH past the 150-run mark before being bowled by Sandeep Sharma in the 19th over.
Rahul Tripathi
After the early loss of Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi took the initiative in the Powerplay. Tripathi attacked the RR bowlers, particularly targeting Ravichandran Ashwin and Trent Boult. He played a series of aggressive shots, including a sweep off Ashwin and a punch through the covers off Boult.
Tripathi’s assault on Ashwin in the fourth over yielded 16 runs, including a six and two fours. He continued his onslaught against Boult, hitting a six and a boundary before being dismissed by a slower bouncer. Tripathi’s brisk 37 off 15 balls, featuring five fours and two sixes, set a solid foundation for SRH.
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Chasing 176, Yashasvi Jaiswal provided RR with a strong start. He hit a six in the first over and, despite the pitch slowing down, managed a boundary off Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the third over. Jaiswal accelerated in the sixth over, taking 19 runs off Bhuvneshwar with a series of aggressive shots.
Jaiswal showcased his versatility by reverse-sweeping Shahbaz Ahmed for a six, but fell in the same over attempting another big hit. His quickfire 42 off 21 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes, was a bright spot in RR’s innings.
Dhruv Jurel
With RR struggling, Dhruv Jurel came in and played a composed yet aggressive innings. He initially focused on rotating the strike but unleashed a late counterattack. Jurel hit consecutive boundaries off Shahbaz Ahmed and took on Abhishek Sharma and Pat Cummins, hitting two fours and a six.
Jurel’s unbeaten 56 off 35 balls, adorned with seven boundaries and two sixes, kept RR’s hopes alive. Despite his valiant effort, RR fell short of the target, but Jurel’s knock highlighted his potential and fighting spirit.
These performances stood out in a match that showcased high-caliber batting under pressure, setting the stage for an exciting IPL final.
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