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May 21, 2024
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) decisively defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by eight wickets, securing their place in the final of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The match occurred at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. KKR’s bowlers excelled in limiting a formidable SRH batting line-up to just 159 runs. KKR’s batters then efficiently chased down the target, marking their fourth final appearance, the first since 2021.
On the pivotal day of SRH vs KKR, SRH captain Pat Cummins won the toss and opted to bat first, hoping to leverage their aggressive batting style that had captivated fans throughout the season. As Mitchell Starc took the new ball to bowl to Travis Head, he made an immediate impact by shattering Head’s stumps on just the second ball, setting Kolkata Knight Riders off to a strong start.
The powerplay was filled with drama, as SRH aimed to fight back with their typical style while KKR sought wickets aggressively. Amidst the chaos, Rahul Tripathi emerged as a beacon of hope for SRH, bravely taking to the air even as KKR ramped up the pressure. However, Sunrisers Hyderabad struggled significantly, losing three more wickets in quick succession. In the second over, Andre Russell, off Vaibhav Arora, caught Abhishek Sharma at cover. Starc returned in the fifth over to deliver a double blow, with Nitish Reddy top-edging a catch to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Shahbaz Ahmed, who was sent in at No. 6 instead of Heinrich Klaasen, was bowled on his first ball. At 39 for four after just five overs, SRH found themselves in a dire situation in this tense SRH vs KKR clash.
Then came a partnership that ignited hope for SRH in the intense SRH vs KKR match. Over the next six overs, Klaasen and Tripathi combined for a vital 61 runs. When Sunil Narine was introduced in the ninth over, he faced an onslaught, conceding 18 runs, including a massive six from Klaasen that soared down the ground. By taking on Narine, SRH aimed to establish a strong momentum.
Tripathi reached his fifty in the 11th over, executing a reverse sweep against Chakaravarthy for a four, accomplishing the milestone in just 29 balls while maintaining an impressive pace under pressure. However, the innings began to falter shortly after that. Klaasen fell for 32, caught at deep mid-wicket by Rinku Singh. Abdul Samad aggressively entered the fray, launching the first ball he faced for a colossal six off Narine. He continued his assault, hitting Narine for another huge six on the very first ball of the 14th over. Unfortunately, a mix-up with Tripathi led to his run-out, leaving a distraught Tripathi to walk back for 55. At this point in the SRH vs KKR clash, SRH found themselves in a precarious position at 121 for six.
In the following overs of the SRH vs. KKR match, only captain Pat Cummins demonstrated resistance, scoring 30 runs off 24 balls and guiding the innings past 150 despite a flurry of wickets falling. He consistently found boundaries during the slog overs, even tarnishing Starc’s bowling figures by hitting his final two deliveries for a four and a six. Cummins was eventually dismissed in the last over, as SRH concluded their innings at 159 runs. While it was a collective effort from KKR, Starc notably excelled with figures of three for 34, and Chakaravarthy impressed with an economical two for 26. KKR’s bowlers were well-supported by their fielders, who exhibited outstanding commitment and created multiple opportunities.
KKR’s response to the chase started as if they were targeting over 200 runs. There was a notable change in their line-up, with Gurbaz opening the batting alongside Narine. Playing his first match of the tournament, Gurbaz wasted no time making an impact, striking the second ball of the innings for a four. When Cummins bowled the second over, Narine greeted him with two consecutive fours before Gurbaz managed a top edge that soared over the third man for a six. This aggressive start continued as Bhuvneshwar returned to bowl in the third over. T. Natarajan was brought in for the fourth over, providing SRH with their first breakthrough when Gurbaz attempted a shot over cover but was caught for 23 runs in this exciting SRH vs KKR encounter.
There was no relief for SRH as Venkatesh Iyer entered the fray with great intent, sustaining the tempo of the KKR innings. They amassed 63 runs during the powerplay. Narine’s brief but impactful innings of 21 ended when he was caught at deep square leg off Cummins.
Following Narine’s departure, the Iyer duo took command. Shreyas and Venkatesh kept the required run rate well under control, yet they remained aggressive in their approach. SRH faced a challenging day in the field, losing their reviews early in the innings and dropping several catches, including a crucial one of Shreyas. For a time, Venkatesh appeared to be the main attraction, hitting multiple sixes with ease and showcasing excellent timing while clearing the ropes. Shreyas also found his rhythm as the innings progressed in this intense SRH vs. KKR matchup, hitting his own boundaries to contribute significantly to the score.
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