KKR vs SRH IPL highlights: Kolkata Knight Riders crush Sunrisers Hyderabad by 8 wickets in Qualifier 1 to enter IPL 2024 final - The Times of India (2024)

Two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders pummelled Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets in the qualifier to waltz into the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Tuesday.

Mitchell Starc produced a three-wicket burst to rattle Hyderabad, who managed a below-par 159 before they were all out with three balls left in their innings.

Kolkata romped home with 6.2 overs to spare after unbeaten half-centuries by Venkatesh Iyer (51) and skipper Shreyas Iyer (58).

Hyderabad will get another chance to make Sunday's final when they clash with the winners of Wednesday's eliminator between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Australian Starc entered the league as its most expensive player following his $2.98 million deal with Kolkata, but he struggled for wickets in the first half of the tournament.

The left-arm seamer was bang on the money on Tuesday though as he removed compatriot Travis Head for a duck and sent back Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shahbaz Ahmed in successive deliveries to rock Hyderabad.

Rahul Tripathi (55), Heinrich Klaasen (32) and skipper Pat Cummins (30) took Hyderabad past the 150-mark but it was not enough to test Kolkata's formidable batting lineup.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sunil Narine gave Kolkata a flying start before Venkatesh and Shreyas plundered 97 runs off 44 balls to seal an easy victory.

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is currently expressing his gratitude to fans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The crowd is erupting with loud cheers, creating an electric atmosphere.

Kolkata delivered a crushing defeat to Hyderabad, showcasing their dominance and making their opponents appear utterly helpless. Chasing a target of 160 on a pitch that seemed more favorable for batting, Kolkata only required a solid start in the Powerplay to gain the upper hand, and they achieved precisely that. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, filling in for Phil Salt, provided a blistering cameo at the beginning, setting the pace for the remainder of the innings. Although Sunil Narine wasn't at his most fluent, he still managed to score runs, and then the Iyers - Shreyas and Venkatesh - took charge, smashing the ball to all corners of the ground.

Venkatesh Iyer has been a resurgent player throughout the season, consistently stepping up when the opening pair hasn't been at their best. Shreyas Iyer also approached the game with a positive mindset and arguably played his finest innings of the tournament, just one game before the final, which will undoubtedly be a cause for concern among the other teams. Overall, it was a magnificent performance, and Kolkata can now take a day or two to rest before turning their attention to the Grand Finale.

Kolkata Knight Riders book a place in the final with a convincing 8-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad.

KKR set to play their fourth final in the history of IPL.

SIX! Another maximum for Venky. He whacks Nitish Reddy over his favourite area deep mid wicket. And that's his half century. He raises his bat towards the crowd and dressing room in celebration.

Kolkata Knight Riders need 18 runs in 42 balls

FOUR! Short from Pat Cummins. Venkatesh Iyer pulls this towards deep mid wicket. The ball sails like a rocket. He is in top form this season.

Kolkata Knight Riders need 70 runs in 69 balls

Sunil Narine’s last seven scores vs SRH

0 (2)
6 (2)
1* (2)
0 (1)
1 (2)
2 (4)
21 (16)

- He scored just 129 runs at an average of 9.92 against SRH in the IPL

SIX! Venky Iyer on the charge. He goes down on his knee, picks the ball and dispatches it over deep mid wicket fence for a monstrous hit.

Kolkata Knight Riders need 78 runs in 75 balls

WICKET! Pat Cummins gets his man. Sunil Narine falls for 21 runs. Pat Cummins' strategy pays off! With three fielders positioned in the deep on the leg side, Sunil Narine finds himself falling into the trap. Cummins delivers a short ball over middle stump, leaving Narine with limited room to maneuver. Despite the cramped conditions, Narine commits to the pull shot but fails to make the desired connection.

The ball flies straight into the waiting hands of Vijayakanth Viyaskanth at deep mid-wicket, who secures his second catch of the evening. Hyderabad's spirits are lifted, and they now hope that this wicket will lead to another in quick succession, turning the tide in their favour.

Kolkata Knight Riders need 93 runs in 82 balls

Gurbaz's impressive performance provided Kolkata Knight Riders with a solid foundation in the early stages of the match. Although his dismissal came unexpectedly, his contribution had already put KKR in a favorable position.

Currently, KKR find themselves in a comfortable situation.

However, Sunrisers Hyderabad must strike back by taking wickets if they hope to regain control of the game and mount a comeback.

Gurbaz's scores vs SRH

0 (3)

0 (1)

23 (14)

WICKET! T Natarajan gets the breakthrough, Rahmanullah Gurbaz falls for 23 runs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz immediately expressed his disappointment with a resounding "No" as the ball made contact with his bat. T Natarajan delivered a pitch-angled delivery, directing it across the right-handed batsman once more. Gurbaz advanced down the pitch, positioning himself on the leg side of the ball, with the intention of smashing it through the covers.

Unfortunately, his execution was flawed, resulting in a flat slice off the toe end of the bat. The ball traveled directly towards Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, who was positioned at covers. Viyaskanth showcased his sharp reflexes by securing the catch around his face, providing Hyderabad with their inaugural wicket of the match.

KKR 44/1 in 3.2 overs, need 116 runs

KKR delivered an exceptional bowling performance, putting them on the brink of reaching the final. Despite a slight lapse in concentration towards the end, Shreyas Iyer will be satisfied with his team's overall display. KKR showed no signs of rustiness, even though their last two league matches were abandoned due to rain, and they appeared ready for the challenge from the very first delivery.

Mitchell Starc led the charge, setting the tone for the innings, and Vaibhav Arora, his new ball partner, followed suit by claiming a wicket from the other end. Kolkata's start continued to improve as Starc dismantled SRH's batting lineup, taking two more wickets in his initial spell. As they have throughout the season, the spin combination of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy once again dominated the middle overs, preventing SRH from breaking free.

Not only was the bowling effort remarkable, but the fielders also provided excellent support, resulting in a well-rounded performance. Kolkata had to wait for the final wicket and would have preferred to restrict Hyderabad to under 150, but they will be content with the target of 160.

SIX! What a shot from skipper Pat Cummins. He comes with an aggressive reverse hit. He whacks Varun Chakaravarthy over third man fence.

SRH 140/9 in 17.2 overs vs KKR

WICKET! Varun Chakaravarthy strikes again. Bhuvneshwar Kumar goes for a duck. A loud LBW appeal from Varun Chakaravarthy. Umpire has give Bhuvi OUT. Bhuvi goes for a review. There's a flat line on Ultra Edge. Over to ball-tracking and the ball hitting is hitting the stumps and it is umpire's call. Bhuvi has to go.

SRH 126/9 in 16 overs vs KKR

WICKET! Another one bites the dust this time. Abdul Samad goes this time. Harsh*t Rana removes Samad for 16 runs. Harsh*t Rana strikes on his return to the attack and Hyderabad slip further. Rana takes pace off and bowls it on a good length, around off, Abdul Samad walks down the track but gives himself a bit too much room. He has to reach out and does not manage to pick the change of pace. Ends up hitting it flat and straight down the throat of long off where Shreyas Iyer takes it to his right in front of the SRH dugout.

SRH 125/8 in 14.4 overs vs KKR

WICKET! Sunrisers Hyderabad are in serious trouble now. Sunil Narine castles Sanvir Singh for a duck. What a delivery from Narine. SRH are 7 down. Narine, with his crafty spin, delivers a perfectly pitched ball on off stump. Sanvir Singh, the Impact Player, attempts to step forward, but the ball's length proves deceptive. Sanvir's technique falters, leaving a gaping hole between his bat and pad. The ball, sensing the opportunity, sneaks through the gap, evading the inside edge. It continues its determined path, ultimately crashing into the stumps. Sanvir departs without troubling the scorers, a golden duck to his name, as Kolkata tightens their grip on the match.

SRH 123/7 in 13.4 overs vs KKR

WICKET! A huge mix up in the middle. Rahul Tripathi is run out for 55 runs. Brilliant stuff from Andre Russell. In a devastating turn of events for SRH, an exceptional display of fielding prowess by Andre Russell has led to the dismissal of Rahul Tripathi. Narine, with a shortened length and increased pace, delivers the ball outside off stump, enticing Abdul Samad to reach out and execute a forceful cut shot towards backward point.

With lightning-fast reflexes, Andre Russell dives to his left and, in one fluid motion, turns around while still on the ground. He unleashes a precise throw towards the keeper, catching both Abdul Samad and Rahul Tripathi off guard as they set off for a run.

Tripathi, unfortunately, finds himself running towards the perilous end, and despite his best efforts, he falls short of his crease. The batters' hesitation in the middle proves costly, as Rahmanullah Gurbaz securely collects the throw and completes the formalities, sealing Tripathi's fate. This moment of brilliance from Andre Russell has undoubtedly dealt a significant blow to SRH's chances in the match.

SRH 121/6 in 13.2 overs vs KKR

WICKET! Varun Chakaravarthy ends dangerous Heinrich Klaasen's stay at 32 runs. Big bog wicket for KKR. A 62-run stand comes to an end. In his opening over, Varun Chakaravarthy makes a crucial breakthrough by dismissing the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen, who was beginning to accelerate. The bowler delivers a well-flighted delivery, pitching it full and targeting the middle and leg stump area.

The ball is right in Klaasen's hitting zone, and he attempts to play a forceful sweep shot across the line.
However, Klaasen fails to generate the desired distance, instead hitting the ball high in the air. The ball travels towards the deep mid-wicket region, where Rinku Singh showcases his agility by running swiftly to his right. He positions himself perfectly and completes a secure catch, ensuring Klaasen's departure and providing his team with a vital wicket.