Reviving Kolkata Knight Riders: Dominance in IPL 2024 Qualifier 1
Where did the game tilt?
While SRH struggled across all phases, KKR's dominance in the PowerPlay turned the game in their favor. Losing key wickets early on, SRH found themselves in a shaky position heading into the middle overs, whereas KKR flourished with their ninth score of 60-plus in this season's PowerPlay.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
PowerPlay: Mitchell Starc decimates the top order
Phase score - 45/4 [RR: 7.50, 4s/6s: 6/0]
Mitchell Starc set the tone early by dismissing Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma in quick succession. Despite a brief counter-attack from Rahul Tripathi, Starc's brilliance continued as he removed Nitish Reddy and Shahbaz Ahmed in successive deliveries, leaving SRH struggling at their third-lowest PowerPlay score of the season.
Middle-overs: SRH falter after initial resurgence
Phase score - 80/4 [RR: 8.89, 4s/6s: 5/4]
Although Tripathi played aggressively, KKR regained control during the middle overs. Varun CV struck by dismissing Klaasen, and despite Abdul Samad's efforts, KKR managed to take crucial wickets, including that of Tripathi and Samad, restricting SRH's progress.
Death-overs: Pat Cummins pushes SRH past 150
Phase score - 34/2 [RR: 7.56, 4s/6s: 2/2]
Pat Cummins played a vital role in getting SRH past the 150-run mark with some late hitting, even though wickets fell at the other end. His aggressive approach provided some respectability to SRH's total.
Kolkata Knight Riders
PowerPlay: Gurbaz departs, KKR thrives
Phase score - 63/1 [RR: 10.50, 4s/6s: 9/2]
Despite losing Gurbaz early, KKR capitalized on the PowerPlay with Narine and Venkatesh Iyer scoring briskly. Their aggressive start set the tone for the successful chase.
Middle-overs: Venkatesh and Shreyas Iyer seal the deal
Phase score - 101/1 [RR: 13.17, 4s/6s: 8/8]
Venkatesh Iyer's aggressive half-century, coupled with Shreyas Iyer's fluent innings, ensured KKR's smooth run-chase. SRH's missed opportunities further aided KKR's charge towards victory.
In conclusion, KKR's comprehensive performance propelled them to the final, while SRH will look to bounce back in the second qualifier against the winner of the Eliminator between RR and RCB.
