Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore and put them on the verge of an exit from the tournament. (Source: PTI)
Sunrisers Hyderabad proved that they are the masters of defence. RCB needed 12 of the last over and their strike bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled a masterclass over and defended it with aplomb. With six needed off the last ball, Colin de Grandhomme went for the big hit but was bowled by a terrific yorker as SRH won by 5 runs and are the first team to make it to the playoffs. Infact the last three overs bowled by SRH was one of the best that has been seen in IPL 2018 as the duo of young Siddarth Kaul and Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave away just 18 runs. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli and his RCB’s campaign is hanging by a thread. Kohli will be particularly disappointed that the famed batting lineup failed to do the job once again. Poor shot selection and some exceptional death bowling choked RCB.
IPL 2018 Live, SRH vs RCB: Sunrisers Hyderabad are on top of IPL table. (Source: IPL)
Highlights
Sunrisers Hyderabad are the masters of defence. RCB needed 12 of the last over and their strike bowler Bhuvnesh Kumar has defended it with aplomb. With six needed off the last ball, de Grandhomme went for the big hit but was bowled by a terrific yorker. SRH win by 5 runs and are the first team to make it to the playoffs. RCB's season is hanging by a thread.
Mandeep Singh, Colin de Grandhomme have come together to forge a decent partnership of 24 from 26 balls. These two must remain together at the crease if RCB have to go deep in this tricky chase.
SRH are showing why their bowling unit is the most dangerous in IPL 2018. This time it is Siddarth Kaul who has picked up a wicket. Back of length delivery angles away from Moeen Ali and all he can do is play a cross-batted shot which results in a faint edge. Wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha accepts the catch gladly.
There is a hint of reverse swing and SRH have picked up 3 wickets in a space of 12 balls for SRH. RCB in big trouble at 85/5 in 12 overs.
AB De Villiers is clean bowled by Rashid Khan. It's a googly and ABD tries to pick it off the pitch and tries to play the cut shot. However, the ball has a lot of pace on it and takes an inside edge to crash onto the stumps.
Shakib Al Hasan has got the big wicket of Virat Kohli and a massive breakthrough for SRH. Kohli tries to cut the ball and it goes over the gully region but the fielder Yusuf Pathan has other ideas - The ball is going over his head and he sticks out his arm. What a nonchalant effort by the big man. A special catch to dismiss a special batsman. Four runs and a wicket in the over.
Captain drops Captain! Kane Williamson has dropped a sitter at standing at slips and none other than that of RCB skipper Virat Kohli. Slower leg=spinner from Rashid Khan finds the edge but is grassed. What a let-off for Kohli. RCB 71/2 after 9 overs.
Sandeep Sharma strikes and he removes Manan Vohra for 8. It was a slow delivery from the right-hander and Vohra tried to slog it away but only managed to drag it on to his stumps.
After the powerplay overs, Royal Challengers Bangalore are 55/1. They lost Parthiv Patel early in the chase but skipper Virat Kohli has pulled things back for them as he has been aggressive right from the beginning
A boundary followed by a maximum. Kane Williamson's plan of putting in left-arm spinner is failing. Jadeja got him out the other evening but Shakib is being hammered all around the park
Shakib Al Hasan strikes in the third over to remove the dangerous Parthiv Patel. Big wicket for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Patel is out for 20 and RCB are 25/1 after 3 overs.
Manan Vohra and Parthiv Patel are at the crease for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Sandeep Sharma will open the attack for Sunrisers Hyderabad. We are all set for live action.
A review of the last ball of SRH's innings and Sandeep Sharma is struck plumb in front. Tim Southee gets his third wicket of the night. At one stage it seemed SRH would get past the 160 run mark but RCB's bowlers came back well into the match and gave away just 34 runs in the last five overs. Tim Southee, Mohammed Siraj were the pick up of the bowlers, picking up six wickets between themselves. Now the batsmen need to do the job. RCB need 147 to win and keep their hopes of qualifying for playoffs alive!
Mohammed Siraj has knocked the woodwork twice in one over. What an over! First the big wicket of Yusuf Pathan and then a 146kmph thunderbolt to get rid of Wriddhiman Saha. Splendid over by the seamer and SRH are reeling at 143/7.
Tim Southee gets the wicket of Shakib Al Hasan. Bowls the off-cutter and Shakib tries to clear the square leg fielder but is caught. Al Hasan is out for a well-made 35. SRH lose another wicket.
In his final over of the spell, Umesh Yadav strikes to remove Kane Williamson. Slower delivery by Yadav and Williamson tries to hoick it over the fine leg region but finds Mandeep Singh's safe hands. A fine innings of 56 comes to an end. SRH 112/4 after 16.0 Ovs. Time for a strategic timeout.
With a single of Yuzvendra Chahal Williamson brings up yet another half-century. Fifth fifty of the IPL and once again he is leading from the front. What a fine knock.
After a slow start and loss of early of early wickets, the experienced duo of Kane Williamson and Shakib Al Hasan have consolidated the innings and forged a decent partnership of 28 off 23 balls. Their presence at the crease will be crucial for SRH if they have to post a score of above 160. SRH- 76/3 in 12 overs
Yuzvendra Chahal has foxed Manish Pandey with a slower delivery! Brilliant bowling. Pandey is early in the shot and checks it at the final moment. Straight to Kohli at covers
Bangalore would be happy with this performance in the powerplay. Just the 38 runs and they picked up two wickets. Now Chahal will bowl his leg spin after the powerplay
Mohammed Siraj picks up Shikhar Dhawan. Short from Siraj and Dhawan pulls it straight to deep square leg. A bit high on Dhawan and he cannot hit it properly. Just goes straight to the fielder
Slow start for SRH. They are 23 for the loss of one wicket after four overs. Now Williamson and Dhawan are the two players at the crease. Tim Southee to continue
Tim Southee knocks over Alex Hales! Bad shot from the SRH batsman. Gone for 5. Slow through the air and off the pitch. Hales tries to play a cross batted shot. Misses it completely and bowled
Dhawan and Alex Hales hit a boundary each off Umesh Yadav and take 10 runs from the second over. Umesh faulting in line and length there
Moeen Ali with an impressive over. Dhawan and Hales take four runs off that first over. RCB need to keep SRH under check in the powerplay. Umesh Yadav to second over
Moeen Ali, making his IPL debut, will open the bowling against Hyderabad who open with Alex Hales and Shikhar Dhawan. Hales and Moeen are England teamamates
Playing 11 for Royal Challengers Bangalore: Parthiv Patel, Moeen Ali, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Mandeep Singh, Colin de Grandhomme, Manan Vohra, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal
Sunrisers Hyderabad Playing 11: Alex Hales, Shikhar Dhawan, Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan, Shakib Al Hasan, Wriddhiman Saha, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rashid Khan, Siddarth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma
Royal Challengers Bangalore have won the toss and elected to bowl against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Kohli says chasing at this ground is always better
What should the captain winning the toss do in Hyderabad? SRH have been brilliant with defending totals, will they do it again?
Cricketers have their wives and girlfriends travelling with them at matches. If you have missed it, here are some of the top WAGs in the IPL season. From Anushka Sharma to Priyanka Raina, WAGs at Indian Premier League matches
Virat Kohli has been optimistic about his team's performance. They are seventh in the points table and Kohli says winning the the final five games can give them the playoff spot
SRH have been the masters of defending totals. They chased down one in their last game as well. Against, their bowlers will need to step up and get some early wickets
While other teams are still are playing the reverse fixtures against each other this season, this will be the first game between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad for this season
Here are the predicted XI for Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore fixture - With a fifty Parthiv Patel might get a chance again for RCB. For SRH, Alex Hales could see a return with the side needing to sort out batting line-up.
Sunrisers Hyderabad Predicted XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Alex Hales, Wriddhiman Saha, Shakib Al Hasan, Kane Williamson(c), Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan, Rashid Khan, Siddarth Kaul, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma
Royal Challengers Bangalore Predicted XI: Quinton de Kock, Parthiv Patel, Virat Kohli(c), AB de Villiers, Manan Vohra, Colin de Grandhomme, Murugan Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee
Sunrisers Hyderabad best player so far in this season has been the spinner Rashid Khan and he can once again prove to be the key player for the side against a struggling batting unit of Royal Challengers Bangalore. Click to read more about the Afghanistan leggie who has been making a name for himself this season: How Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Rashid Khan is running circles around batsmen
Sunrisers Hyderabad are currently on the top of the Indian Premier League table after the 7-wicket win over Delhi Daredevils in their previous encounter. On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bangalore have failed to make it through the top half of the table and are currently in the 6 position in the table with just 3 wins so far. Click to get a look at IPL Points Table so far:
Royal Challengers Bangalore have had a terrible show throughout this season. The side led by Virat Kohli has managed to win only three games so far, and the 5-wicket loss against Chennai Super Kings has all but ended their chances of making it through the play-offs. In their past three games, they won against Mumbai Indians by 14 runs, but lost to KKR by 6 wickets and to CSK by 5 wickets.
Sunrisers Hyderabad are table toppers in IPL 2018 and they kept their position in the table after clinching a thrilling win over Delhi Daredevils with a blistering inning from Yusuf Pathan. SRH chased down 163 in the final over and all but confirm a playoff spot. In their previous three games, they have beaten Delhi Daredevils by 7 wickets, Rajasthan Royals by 11 runs and Kings XI Punjab by 13 runs. Bowlers did a terrific job in all three games.
It was a double-header on Sunday and both the matches provided equal excitement. First up, it was the struggling Mumbai Indians who punched their way through as they defeated the confident Kolkata Knight Riders by 13 runs with Hardik Pandya delivering an allround performance. Setting a target of 181 to chase, KKR only managed to reach 168/6 in their 20 overs.
Next up, Kings XI Punjab picked up a massive 6-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals with KL Rahul smashing an unbeaten-84 in 54 balls to take his side to an easy chase of 155 with 8 balls to spare. Marcus Stoinis and Karun Nair also chipped in with runs.
For struggling Royal Challengers Bangalore, a tough contest is in store as they gear up to take on the table-toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad in an away fixture. In their previous encounter against Delhi Daredevils, SRH showed some form with the bat as they went on to chase down 163 in the final over to clinch a massive 7-wicket win. Now with a chance to make it through the play-offs, they would be eager to make it past through the Virat Kohli-led side which has not been in the best form throughout this season.