Bangladesh Test and T20I captain Shakib al Hasan produced an all-round performance, alongside Afghanistan all-rounder Rashid Khan, as the Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Kolkata Knight Riders in the second IPL T20 Qualifier to set up a final clash with Chennai Super Kings.
Shakib will be contesting his third IPL final, after the first two for Kolkata, while 2016 champion Sunrisers will be targeting their second title against two-time winner Chennai.
Chasing 175 runs, Kolkata were restricted to 160 for the loss of nine wickets in their stipulated 20 overs, spinners Rashid and Shakib leading the way with regular wickets and economical bowling.
Player of the match Rashid, who took two catches and affected a run out, bagged three wickets conceding 19 runs from his quota of four overs while Shakib dismissed Kolkata skipper Dinesh Karthik, finishing with bowling figure of 1/16 in three overs.
Kolkata opener Chris Lynn top-scored with a 31-ball 48, featuring half a dozen fours and a couple of sixes.
Earlier, Rashid powered Sunrisers to 174/7 from their allotted 20 overs, hammering an unbeaten 10-ball 34 featuring two boundaries and four sixers.
Shakib scored a crucial 24-ball 28, including four fours, in the middle overs before he was caught short of the crease by Kolkata spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
Next up for Shakib and Sunrisers are Chennai, who won the last of their two titles in 2011, with the grand finale scheduled to be held Sunday in Mumbai.
Following the game, Shakib said, "Third time I'll be playing in an IPL final. Thanks to the franchise for playing me in all games. Some games we didn't do our best, but a good tournament overall for Sunrisers.
"We always knew you can lose in the last two-three overs in T20s, momentum changes. We had to hold our nerves, but we used our experience from the other day.
"Carlos [Brathwaite] will be a happy man, the way we lost that day, he thought it was because of him. The way he came back was terrific. Chennai are a great side, it'll be a great final. In the middle overs where Rashid and I bowled, we squeezed the game. That was the turning point."
BRIEF SCORE
Kolkata Knight Riders 160/9 (Rashid 3/19, Shakib 1/16) lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad 174/7 (Rashid 34*, Shakib 28) by 14 runs
