New Delhi: In a high-stakes encounter, the first qualifier match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 unfolded between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The match, held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, witnessed intense action as KKR emerged victorious, securing their place in the finals.
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Struggles with the Bat
Winning the toss, SRH captain Pat Cummins opted to bat first. However, their innings got off to a rocky start. Travis Head, who had been a consistent performer throughout the season, fell for a duck after facing just two balls. Abhishek Sharma managed only three runs in four deliveries. The Hyderabad team lost four wickets within the first six overs, with Nitish Reddy and Shahbaz Ahmed also departing cheaply. Rahul Tripathi held the innings together with a well-constructed 55 runs, while Heinrich Klaasen contributed 32. Despite their efforts, SRH could only muster 159 runs in their allotted 19.3 overs.
KKR’s Dominant Chase
Chasing a target of 160, KKR’s opening pair set the tone. Rahmanullah Gurbaz played a blistering knock of 23 runs off 14 balls, providing a solid foundation. Sunil Narine, however, failed to make an impact. The real hero of KKR’s chase was Venkatesh Iyer, who played a brilliant innings of 51 runs. Captain Shreyas Iyer supported him with a quickfire 58 off 24 balls. Hyderabad’s bowling lacked teeth, with only Pat Cummins and T Natarajan managing to take a single wicket each.
Mitchell Starc Shines Bright
KKR’s victory owed much to their star pacer, Mitchell Starc. The Australian speedster wreaked havoc during the powerplay, claiming three crucial wickets. His spell of 3 for 34 in 4 overs earned him the Player of the Match award.
Finals Bound: Kolkata Knight Riders
With this win, KKR secured their spot in the IPL 2024 finals. Despite the loss, Sunrisers Hyderabad will have another chance in Qualifier 2. On May 22, the Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals will battle it out in the eliminator match. The winner will face SRH, while the losing team will bow out of the tournament. Cricket fans eagerly await the clash that awaits Hyderabad in the next stage of the IPL.
