IPL 2018: Match 51, Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Sunrisers Hyderabad - Match Report

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are on a roll, as they beat the table-toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad by 14 runs in a high-scoring encounter at the jam-packed Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.

Batting first, Bangalore failed to get a good start, as they lost both their openers within the first five overs. Young Rashid Khan bamboozled the inform Virat Kohli to put Hyderabad forward.

However, a timely partnership between AB de Villiers and Moeen Ali ensured they don’t fall back. The pair added 107 runs from 57 balls to set the perfect platform for the batsmen to come.

Although de Villiers (69) and Moeen (65) departed shortly, Colin de Grandhomme made sure they put a good score on the board. His late cameo ensured the host go well over the 200-run mark.

Grandhomme added 40 runs from just 17 balls well supported by young Sarfaraz Khan. After having a dull tournament so far, Khan hammered the bowlers, as he notched up 22 runs from eight balls including three fours and one six.

The late hammering from Grandhomme guided Bangalore to post 218 runs on the board. In a match, when all the bowlers got a good hammering, Rashid continued his good run, as he returned with three for 27 runs.

Hyderabad, in reply, got off to a good start to chase a target which looked like a daunting task. The opening pair added 47 runs. However, two quick wickets halted the run flow. While Chahal got a straight catch from Dhawan, a superlative effort from de Villiers removed Hales, who was looking dangerous.

The Sunrisers skipper Kane Williamson (81) continued with his routine job of taking his team out of danger partnering Manish Pandey (62*).

With 20 runs needed off the last the over, Mohammad Siraj took the onus on himself to deliver at a crunch situation. He bowled a terrific last over to hand RCB another crucial win, as he conceded away only five runs.

As a result, RCB jumps to the fifth spot with 12 points from 13 matches and also has a healthy net run-rate beside their name.

Brief Score: RCB 218/6 (De Villiers 69, Rashid 3/27) beat SRH 204/3 ( Williamson 81, Moeen 1/21) by 14 runs.

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