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In a high-stakes IPL 2024 Qualifier 1 clash, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secured a dominant victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to advance to the final. SRH captain Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bat first, but the decision backfired as they suffered a disastrous start.

Mitchell Starc Dismantle SRH Top-Order

SRH’s innings got off to a terrible beginning when Travis Head was dismissed for a duck on the second ball of the match, and Abhishek Sharma followed soon after, managing just 3 runs. Mitchell Starc spearheaded KKR’s attack with a fiery spell, claiming three wickets within the powerplay and reducing SRH to a precarious 45 for 4 at the end of six overs.

A crucial partnership between Rahul Tripathi and Heinrich Klaasen, worth 62 runs off 37 balls for the fifth wicket, offered some resistance. However, Klaasen’s dismissal opened the floodgates once more for KKR. Varun Chakravarthy’s two wickets further hampered SRH’s efforts, leaving them reeling at 126 for 9. Late contributions from captain Pat Cummins and Vijaykanth Viyaskanth added 33 valuable runs, allowing SRH to post a total of 159 before being bowled out in 19.3 overs.

In response, KKR’s openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sunil Narine provided a rapid start. Gurbaz scored 23 runs before falling to Natarajan, and Narine contributed 21 runs. Despite some dropped catches by SRH, KKR remained well ahead in the chase.

Venkatesh Iyer and Shreyas Iyer Guides Kolkata Knight Riders to Victory Over SRH

Venkatesh Iyer and KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer then took control, putting on a superb partnership that sealed the game. Venkatesh Iyer scored a quickfire 51 off 28 balls, while Shreyas Iyer finished with an unbeaten 58 off just 24 balls. KKR chased down the target with more than six overs to spare, ensuring their place in the IPL 2024 final.

KKR will now compete in the final on Sunday, May 26, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. SRH still have a shot at the final and will face the winner of the Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru match in Qualifier 2.

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