The 105-run second-wicket stand between Faf du Plessis and Rajat Patidar, 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.
The first change in momentum is
It’s the eighth over.
Despite losing Virat Kohli to the first ball of the game, Rajat Patidar and Faf du Plessis bowled some excellent shots to keep the scoreboard ticking. Du Plessis used the pull against Kartik Tyagi in the sixth over to hit a six and a four, while Patidar added a boundary as RCB finished the Powerplay on 47. The pair then reached full speed in Umran Malik’s eighth over, with the tearaway allowing three boundaries and a six. The pair made good use of the extra pace and width on offer. Umran, on the other hand, could have made the breakthrough had the fielder at midwicket not fluffed a difficult chance, giving Du Plessis a reprieve.
SRH is astonished by Karthik’s pyrotechnics.
Patidar eventually holed out for a 38-ball 48, giving Jagadeesha Suchith his second scalp. Du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell then fired a couple shots at Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Maxwell’s decision to stay deep in the crease and tonk Bhuvneshwar’s slower one into the downtown regions indicated that RCB were preparing for the last push. Tyagi, however, dislodged Maxwell just in time, with the powerful batter smashing one to long-on.
With only 10 balls remaining in the innings, RCB’s finisher Dinesh Karthik was allowed to show off his wide range of skills. Off Fazalhaq Farooqi, the seasoned cricketer did not disappoint, slamming three sixes and a boundary. Du Plessis hugged Karthik as he hit the penultimate ball of the innings for a boundary via the long-on region. At the midway point, 192 on the board appeared to be a formidable score in a day game, and it was.
Hasaranga constructs a web
Hasaranga followed up a strong showing by the hitters with 5 for 18 from four overs. To run through the opposition, the wrist spinner employed his main wicket-taking ball, the googly, and mixed it up with flight. With a grin, he rejected Aiden Markram’s consistency. Meanwhile, the googly took out the other backbone of the SRH side, Nicholas Pooran. Pooran could only spoon a catch to the fielder stationed at short third man this time because he let some air in. RCB were already in command when Hasaranga came on to bowl the 17th over, as the wrist spinner proceeded to tease the opposition with a double-wicket maiden. Harshal Patel then dismissed Bhuvneshwar to end SRH’s innings with just 125 runs. SRH put up a gallant 37-ball 58 for the losing team.
Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad 125 in 19.2 overs (Rahul Tripathi 58, Wanindu Hasaranga 5-18) by 67 runs in 20 overs (Faf du Plessis 73*; Jagadeesha Suchith 2-30).
So, what’s next?
On May 4, SRH will face Kolkata Knight Riders, who have now lost four in a row. Meanwhile, on May 13, the fourth-placed RCB will face the Punjab Kings.