It’s Bangalore vs Hyderabad

Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 27

The second qualifier was all about two Australians — Sunrisers Hyderabad's skipper David Warner and Gujarat Lions' middle-order batsman Aaron Finch. In the end, after an engaging three-and-a-half-hour battle, it was Warner's attacking, yet composed, unbeaten 58-ball 93 that overshadowed Finch's equally-important 32-ball 50. Chasing 162 runs to win, Hyderabad beat Gujarat by four wickets with four balls to spare to book their maiden final berth.

For Gujarat, it was the end of an incredible journey. They had finished atop the points table after the league stage, but lost their way when it mattered the most - they lost to Bangalore in the first qualifier and then to Hyderabad at Kotla today.  

Warner single-handedly guided Hyderabad to the IPL final after his side was looking down and out at 84/5 in the 13th over, needing 72 runs more from 42 balls. Warner was at his devastating best, bringing up his 50 in just 21 balls, the third fastest fifty of this season. The diminutive Australian struck 11 fours and three sixes in his breathtaking innings to notch up his highest individual score this season. This was Warner's eighth fifty this season.

He was ably supported by Bipul Sharma, who played an unbeaten cameo of 11-ball 27 lower down the order to stitch a match-winning 46-run partnership in just 20 balls. Sharma hit three sixes to decisively shift the momentum in favour of Hyderabad.

Needing 24 runs from 12 balls, Warner hit Dwayne Bravo for two fours before Sharma pulled him for a huge six over long-on to accumulate 19 runs from the penultimate over. Warner then hit Praveen Kumar's first delivery for a four and then took a quick single to complete a memorable win for Hyderabad.

Earlier, Gujarat rode on Finch's half-century and some useful contributions by Brendon McCullum (32), Dinesh Karthik (26) and Bravo (20) to post a challenging total. Finch made the Hyderabad bowlers pay dearly for dropping him early in his innings. He was on 13 when Brainder Sran dropped a dolly at short fine leg. 

Finch cut loose after that, hitting some beautifully-timed shots to pull Gujarat out of the woods - they were in deep at 83/5. He was dismissed by Ben Cutting in the 18th over soon after completing his fifty, decorated with seven fours and two sixes. Finch held the fort at a time when the wickets were tumbling at the other end.