The Sunrisers Hyderabad defended a total of 146 to claim a five-run win against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in Hyderabad.
RCB sent the Sunrisers in to bat and it worked in their favour, despite a brilliant captain’s knock from Kane Williamson.
Williamson (56 off 39 balls) reached his eighth IPL half-century and his fifth for the season, reviving SRH after a brilliant start from RCB which saw them reduce the hosts to 48-3 after 8.2 overs. Tim Southee (2-29) bowled Alex Hales (five), Mohammed Siraj took out Shikhar Dhawan (13) and Yuzvendra Chahal dismissed Manish Pandey (five).
The SRH skipper elevated his side to 112-3, but quick strikes from purple cap holder Umesh Yadav (1-36) and Southee restricted the hosts to 124-5 by the 18th over.
Siraj (3-25) then rattled SRH further. He took a double, removing Yusuf Pathan (12) and Wriddhiman Saha (one) in the 19th over to reduce SRH to 143-7 with one over remaining. Two run-outs and a wicket from Southee saw the New Zealander end with figures of 3-30 to skittle SRH for 146.
Virat Kohli kickstarted RCB’s chase but could only manage 39 off 30 balls before losing his wicket to Shakib Al Hasan (2-36), after they lost Parthiv Patel (20 off 13 balls) and Manan Vohra (eight). With the visitors on 74-3, it was up to AB de Villiers (five) to take his side home but he was bamboozled by a googly from Rashid Khan, who rattled his stumps in the 11th over.
SRH were 80-4 after 11 overs and this turned into 84-5 when Moeen Ali (10) bottom edged a Siddarth Kaul (1-25) delivery into Saha’s gloves.
Mandeep Singh (21* off 33 balls) and Colin de Grandhomme (33 off 29 balls) rotated the strike to take the visitors to 108-5 by the 16th over and then De Grandhomme took on Rashid (1-31) in the 17th over, smashing him for two sixes.
Needing 25 off the final three overs, they reduced it to 19 off 12 balls, with De Grandhomme’s innings becoming essential. Kaul, however, squeezed RCB and conceded just seven.
A brilliant final over from Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1-27) saw him bowl four yorkers, which included the wicket of De Grandhomme, as RCB were reduced to 141-6.
The win takes SRH to the top of the table with 16 points, two points above the Chennai Super Kings. RCB will need to win all their remaining matches to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Photo: Prashant Bhoot /SPORTZPICS for BCCI
