The 105-run partnership between Faf du Plessis and Rajat Patidar for the second wicket, as well as Wanindu Hasaranga’s five-for, established the foundation for Royal Challengers Bangalore’s 67-run triumph over Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.
The first of these swings in momentum is
It’s the eighteenth over.
Despite the fact that Virat Kohli was dismissed off the opening ball of the game, Rajat Patidar and Faf du Plessis produced some excellent strokes to keep the scoreboard ticking over. In the sixth over, Du Plessis used the pull against Kartik Tyagi to hit two sixes and a four, while Patidar added another boundary as RCB finished with 47 runs after the Powerplay was completed. The two then hit top gear in the eighth over, which was bowled by Umran Malik, who conceded three boundaries and a six in his maiden Test appearance. The couple made full use of the extra speed and width that was made available to them. Umran, on the other hand, had a chance to break the deadlock, but the fielder at midwicket fluffed a difficult opportunity, resulting in Du Plessis being given a reprieve.
The pyrotechnics of Karthik leave SRH in a daze.
Patidar eventually holed out for a 38-ball 48, with Jagadeesha Suchith claiming his second scalp of the day. After that, Du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell took on Bhuvneshwar Kumar with a few strokes of their own. The way Maxwell stayed deep in the crease and tonked Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s slower delivery into the downtown regions gave the impression that RCB were preparing for the final assault of the game. Tyagi, on the other hand, was able to dislodge Maxwell at the last minute, with the explosive batter cracking one to long-on.
With only 10 balls remaining in the innings, it was up to RCB’s finisher Dinesh Karthik to put on a show with his diverse collection of strokes. The veteran cricketer did not disappoint as he smashed three sixes and a boundary off Fazalhaq Farooqi in the first innings. Immediately following the completion of Karthik’s boundary shot via the long-on region, Du Plessis extended a loving embrace to the Indian captain. Even around the midway point of the game, 192 points appeared to be a formidable total in a day game. This turned out to be the case.
Hasaranga creates a web of deception.
Hasaranga followed up a strong performance by the hitters with five for 18 from four overs, which was an outstanding result. The wrist spinner used his primary wicket-taking delivery – the googly – as well as a variety of other deliveries with flight to completely destroy the opposition. Aiden Markram, who had been consistent, was dismissed with a goofy eye. Meanwhile, the other mainstay on the SRH side, Nicholas Pooran, was also taken out by the googly in the same match. This time, he let some air in, and Pooran was only able to spoon a catch to the fielder who was stationed at short third base. Hasaranga entered the fray to bowl the 17th over and continued to tease the opposition with a double-wicket maiden. RCB were well in command by the time Hasaranga entered the fray. Harshal Patel next dismissed Bhuvneshwar Kumar to put an end to SRH’s innings for a meager 125. SRH put up a valiant 37-ball 58 to lose the match to the hosts.
Briefly, Royal Challengers Bangalore scored 192/3 in 20 overs (Faf du Plessis 73*; Jagadeesha Suchith 2-30) to defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad’s 125 in 19.2 overs (Rahul Tripathi 58, Wanindu Hasaranga 5-18) by 67 runs to win the tournament.
What happens next?
A match against the Kolkata Knight Riders is scheduled on May 4 in Hyderabad. SRH has now lost four games in a row. Meanwhile, on May 13, the fourth-placed Royal Challengers Bangalore will square off against the Punjab Kings.