Toptier fastbowler Mitchell Starc showcased an exceptional performance with the ball for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 Qualifier 1 held in Ahmedabad on a striking Tuesday May 21. Starc commenced by dismissing the key wicket of opener Travis Head before impressively securing two consecutive wickets in his third over.
The left-arm pacer dismissed Nitish Reddy and Shahbaz Ahmed on successive deliveries, leaving the Sunrisers reeling at 39/4. The dismissals occurred in the fifth over of the SRH innings.
After a few length balls, Starc tried for a surprise bumper outside off, restricting Reddy’s space and eliciting a heavy top-edge as Rahmanullah Gurbaz made a secure catch to his left. Starc followed up with a length ball around off to send Shahbaz back, but his lack of foot movement resulted in a heavy inside edge that slammed into the middle stump.
Watch the video below:
Wasim Akram Backs Mitchell Starc as Game-Changer Ahead of IPL 2024 Playoffs
Wasim Akram recently encouraged Mitchell Starc to produce in the IPL 2024 playoffs, despite only taking 12 wickets in 11 innings. Akram reminded fans that Starc single-handedly won a game for KKR against Mumbai Indians (MI) with numbers of 4/33.
While praising KKR’s bowling squad, Akram recently told Sportskeeda:
“This is [bowling] is one of the main factors [behind KKR finishing on top of the points table], there are wicket-taking bowlers. The teams that will take wickets will win the matches.”
Wasim Akram
The cricketer-turned-commentator continued:
“If you see Chakaravarthy has 18, Harshit Rana’s 16, all-rounders Andre Russell and Sunil Narine have 15, and Mitchell Starc has 12. Starc single-handedly won them a game as well.”
Wasim Akram
As for the match SRH were at 125/8 in 15 overs with Pat Cummins and Bhuvneshwar Kumar at the crease. The Knight Riders secured a fourrun victory over the Sunrisers in a thrilling lastball encounter earlier this season.
The triumphant team in Qualifier 1 secures a slot in the IPL 2024 final. On the flip side the defeated team earns a second shot at the title by challenging the winner of the Eliminator clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2.