On a dramatic final day of the IPL 2024 league stage, SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) clinched the second spot on the points table. SRH needed to secure a win in their last league match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the afternoon game on May 18. They also relied on Rajasthan Royals (RR) not securing two points in their night match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
The Orange Army delivered an impressive batting display against PBKS, successfully chasing a formidable target of 215 with four wickets in hand and five balls to spare. This victory propelled them to 17 points with a net run-rate of +0.414 over 14 games.
RR, on the other hand, stood at 16 points with a net run rate of +0.273 and had the opportunity to surpass SRH with a win against KKR. However, persistent rain led to the abandonment of the match, thwarting their chances. As a result, RR also ended with 17 points but lagged behind SRH due to their lower net run rate.
Securing a top-two finish on the points table is crucial, as it affords those teams two opportunities to win a game and advance to the final. In contrast, teams finishing third and fourth must win two consecutive matches without a loss to reach the final.
“We have played great cricket and had some fun” – Pat Cummins on SRH’s IPL 2024 campaign
SRH skipper Pat Cummins expressed his delight at the team’s performance throughout the league stage, winning 8 out of 14 games with one no-result. Cummins, who took over the captaincy from Aiden Markram before IPL 2024, reflected on the team’s journey after their win against PBKS:
“It’s pretty cool, it’s awesome. We have won 6 out of 7 here, it has been great and amazing. I didn’t know many guys coming into this season, but we have played great cricket and had some fun. Great bunch of guys. Really satisfying and exciting. I haven’t played in finals before. Playing some really good cricket, excited for what’s ahead.”
With the league stage concluded, SRH is set to face KKR in Qualifier 1 at Ahmedabad on Tuesday, May 21. Meanwhile, RR will compete against RCB in the Eliminator at the same venue the following day.
