IPL 2018: Sportzwiki's Man of the Match - Shakib Al Hasan

Bhuvneshwar Kumar destroyed Colin de Grandhomme’s timbers to seal a five-run win for the hosts. But the real damage was done by all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who contributed with the bat and the ball.

Led by skipper Kane Williamson’s 56, the Orange brigade posted 146 on the board against RCB in Hyderabad.

Tim Southee and Mohammed Siraj shared six wickets among them. No one else could add a valuable contribution, but the score looked enough after all the Hyderabad side boasted arguably the best bowling line up.

Shakib Al Hasan steps up on the gas

And the story panned out the same way, as Royal Challengers Bangalore batters struggled against the likes of Rashid Khan and Shakib. Parthiv Patel made 20 while his opening partner Manan Vohra missed out on scoring a good score. Skipper Virat Kohli looked very much at peace and was scoring runs at will.

He hit five fours and cleared the ropes on one occasion, but he stay cut short by Shakib, as Yusuf Pathan held on to a blinder of a catch.

AB de Villiers looked ordinary, scoring just five while Moeen Ali, playing his first game, couldn’t fire with the bat either. A 50-plus-run stand between Mandeep Singh and Grandhomme provided a ray of hope for the RCB fans, as they were desperate to win this tie. But some fine death over bowling restricted them to 141/6.

Shakib-Rashid form a potent force

Shakib shares a very healthy rapport with his fellow spin-partner Rashid Khan. The Bangladesh veteran rates the Afghan player very highly. His predictions regarding Rashid did come true, as he bowled de Villiers at a crucial juncture in the game.

“Not everyone is used to playing against wrist spinners, so batsmen are finding it difficult to negotiate. They (leg-spinners) can turn the ball on any type of wicket, so it’s an advantage for them,” said Shakib as quoted by the Indian Express.