May 26th 2024.
The match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai on Sunday proved to be a one-sided affair, thanks to an exceptional bowling performance by KKR. SRH, who had a strong start in the season, were completely dismantled and could only manage a meager 113 runs in their innings. This is the lowest score by a team batting first in an IPL final.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that KKR has a firm grip on their third IPL title this season. They have been playing outstanding cricket from the very beginning and their dominance was evident in the final match. Mitchell Starc, who had a disappointing league phase, redeemed himself with a stunning delivery that got the young Abhishek Sharma out. The ball swung late, deceiving Abhishek and hitting the off-bail, leaving him with no chance.
It was a delivery that could have dismissed any batsman and it was just unfortunate that it happened to be Abhishek on that day. Even Travis Head, who had a forgettable end to the season, couldn't escape the fear that Starc's delivery instilled in the dug-out. Vaibhav Arora, who bowls at a relatively slower pace, also took advantage of the overcast conditions and got a wicket with a fuller length delivery that shaped away from Head.
Rahul Tripathi was busy and restless at the crease, but Starc's extra pace and bounce proved to be too much for him as well. The ball hit his bat at an awkward spot and he ended up giving a catch to Ramandeep Singh. By the end of the Powerplay, SRH had lost three crucial wickets and Starc's spell was worth every penny of his record-breaking auction price.
As the Powerplay ended, Heinrich Klaasen was left to lead the charge for SRH. However, the middle overs proved to be just as challenging as Harshit Rana and Andre Russell tightened the noose with wickets of Nitish Reddy and Aiden Markram respectively. At 62 for 5, it was clear that SRH had no chance of making a comeback. KKR's pace battery, aided by the extra bounce and movement in the air, was simply too much for them to handle.
With such a low target to chase, it was only a matter of time before KKR emerged victorious. The match seemed like a mere formality as they stepped out to bat. It was a complete display of dominance by KKR, who thoroughly outplayed SRH in every aspect of the game. As the final moments of the match approached, it was clear that KKR was on their way to their third IPL title. And they truly deserved it after playing exceptional cricket throughout the season.
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