In Qualifier 2 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, the Sunrisers Hyderabad emerged victorious over the Rajasthan Royals by a comprehensive margin of 36 runs, securing their place in the tournament’s final for the third time.
After Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson opted to field first, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Rahul Tripathi provided a blazing start, amassing 37 runs off just 15 deliveries. Although Trent Boult dismissed Abhishek Sharma early on, Heinrich Klaasen’s 50-run knock and partnerships with Travis Head and Shahbaz Ahmed propelled Hyderabad to a competitive total of 175/9 in their allotted 20 overs.
The Rajasthan Royals’ chase floundered from the outset, as Hyderabad’s spinners, Abhishek Sharma and Shahbaz Ahmed, capitalized on the conditions to stifle their opponents’ scoring. Despite Avesh Khan’s impressive figures of 3/27, Rajasthan’s batters struggled to gain momentum, ultimately finishing well short of the target with a total of 139/9.
Dhruv Jurel stood as a solitary beacon for Rajasthan, remaining unbeaten on 56 runs from 35 deliveries. However, his efforts proved insufficient to prevent Sunrisers Hyderabad’s victory, which was solidified by Shahbaz Ahmed’s all-around brilliance. The talented all-rounder not only claimed 3/23 with the ball but also contributed a valuable 18 runs with the bat, earning him the player of the match accolade.
With this triumph, the Sunrisers Hyderabad have booked their spot in the IPL 2022 final, where they will face the winner of Qualifier 1. The tournament’s grand finale promises to be an enthralling spectacle, as the top teams battle it out for the coveted IPL trophy.
