Kolkata Knight Riders captain Shreyas Iyer propelled his team to the IPL 2024 final sealing victory against SunRisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 1 at Ahmedabad on Tuesday May 21. Shreyas Iyer with undeniable prowess remained undefeated scoring 58 runs off just 24 balls.
Requiring a mere 18 runs to clinch victory in the next seven overs Pat Cummins handed the ball to Travis Head as Kolkata eyed a win. In a twist of fate Shreyas Iyer the KKR captain unleashed a savage onslaught amassing 22 runs in just four electrifying deliveries.
Shreyas Iyer took Travis Head downtown for a big six, capping up a comfortable win for his team with 6.2 overs to go. Here’s a video of the victory moment:
Venkatesh Iyer also got a half-century (51* off 28 balls), helping Kolkata win by eight wickets.
The target of 160 wasn’t daunting for KKR
Mitchell Starc set up Kolkata’s first innings with 3/34 from four overs. SRH often lost wickets in clusters. Rahul Tripathi’s half-century and Pat Cummins’ late-innings heroics could only bring them to 159 all-out.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sunil Narine made a fast start, taking the sting out of the pursuit. Despite their departure in their twenties, Venkatesh Iyer and Shreyas Iyer reconnected and maintained the intensity. The duo hit fours and sixes virtually at will, adding 97* for the third wicket and ensuring that the chase went smoothly.
Pat Cummins will likely rue his decision to opt for batting first despite the expected dew factor in Ahmedabad. As KKR progresses to the final SRH trails in Chennai eagerly awaiting the outcome of the Eliminator between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
