A dominating performance powered Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to thrash Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and seal a spot in the 2024 IPL final. Chasing 160, an unbroken 97-run third-wicket stand from Venkatesh Iyer and Shreyas Iyer helped KKR to smash SRH by 8 wickets. Venkatesh scored an unbeaten 51 off 28 balls while KKR captain Shreyas played a blistering knock of 24-ball 58*, helping their side to reach the target in just 13.4 overs. On the other hand, SRH will face the winner of the Eliminator between RR and RCB for another crack at the final.

Earlier, the KKR openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sunil Narine did enough damage in the powerplay, slashing 63 runs off their target of 160. T. Natarajan struck in his first over to remove Gurbaz (23), who looked in fine touch. Pat Cummins then dismissed Narine for 21. But Venkatesh and Shreyas counter-attacked SRH bowlers and never allowed them to settle. Shreyas finished off the proceedings in style, hitting a huge six over long-on.

Cummins’ decision to bat first did not go well for SRH as Mitchell Starc cleaned up Travis Head for a duck in the first over. Vaibhav Arora added merry to a fine start, dismissing six-hitting Abhishek Sharma for just 3, thanks to Andre Russell for completing the catch with a top effort. The Australian pacer then gave SRH a huge blow by striking twice in the 5th over. However, Rahul Tripathi and Heinrich Klaasen (32) rebuilt SRH innings with a fine 62-run partnership. Tripathi walked back in frustration after Russell run-out him for 55. Cummins’ cameo of 32 helped SRH to reach a decent 159.

In today’s (May 22) Eliminator, RR will take on RCB to secure a place in Qualifier 2.