Cummins: ‘Final was the goal and we’ve made it’

Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Rajasthan Royals by 36 runs to set up an IPL final against Kolkata Knight Riders. Spinner Shahbaz Ahmed starred with three wickets.

Heinrich Klaasen smashed 50 off 34 balls to help Sunrisers post 175-9, and their bowlers combined to restrict Rajasthan to 139-7 as they reached their third IPL final, to be played in Chennai on Sunday.

Ahmed came in as an impact substitute in Hyderabad’s batting innings, scoring 18 runs. He then returned figures of 3-23 with his left-arm spin to flatten the opposition chase.

Kolkata, which thrashed Hyderabad in the first play-off game to reach its fourth final, will face Pat Cummins’ side again in the decider.

Cummins, who cost Hyderabad $2.5 million at the auction, remains on the cusp of another title after he led Australia to the Test championship trophy and then to the ODI World Cup in India last year.

“You’ve seen that in how we played,” Cummins said on his team’s turnaround from last year when they ended bottom of the 10-team table.

“The finals was the goal, and we’ve made it.”