IPL 2018: Twitter Reacts As Royal Challengers Bangalore Beat Sunrisers Hyderabad In High-Scoring Thriller

Royal Challengers overcame a stiff fight from Kane Williamson and Manish Pandey to beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 14 runs in a must-win clash.

Chasing 219, the Sunrisers started the proceedings on a good note. Shikhar Dhawan and Alex Hales added 47 runs in just 30 balls before Yuzvendra Chahal accounted for the former to end the dangerous stand. 17 runs later, Moeen Ali sent back Hales to put the hosts on top.

However, in-form Kane Williamson and Manish Pandey steadied the ship and laid the foundation for the chase. At the end of the 15th over, the Sunrisers were well placed at 152 for 2 with Williamson batting on 76 and Pandey on 21. The stand was finally broken in the 20th over when Mohammed Siraj dismissed Williamson for 81. Sunrisers needed 20 off the last over but could only manage 5.

Earlier in the game, whirlwind fifties from AB de Villiers and Moeen Ali propelled the hosts to a daunting 218 for 6 in the allotted 20 overs.

Asked to bat first, the Royal Challengers were off to a poor start. Sandeep Sharma accounted for Parthiv Patel for just 1 before Rashid Khan sent back Virat Kohli for 12. However, it was not the precursor of the things that were to follow as de Villiers and Moeen took the attack to the opposition.

The duo added 107 runs for the third wicket to hell Royal Challengers recover from the shaky start. Rashid broke the stand by dismissing de Villiers. The South Africa star scored 69 off 39 with the help of 12 fours and a six. 4 runs later, Moeen departed after scoring 65 off 34.

Colin de Grandhomme then blasted 40 off just 17 while Sarfraz Khan slammed 22 off 8 to finish proceedings strongly.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the game:

Always been a fan of Kane Williamson, the test batsman and captain. But to see him raise his game in T20 through this #IPL has been an experience to watch

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 17, 2018

https://twitter.com/DanishSait/status/997170734190350337

https://twitter.com/sagarcasm/status/997177197365379072

Deserves a standing ovation, does Kane Williamson. ? ? #RCBvSRH

— Nikhil Chinapa (@nikhilchinapa) May 17, 2018

Kohli muttering after two unbelievable shots from Manish Pandey, "ye kya ho raha hai bhai" ? #IPL

— cricBC (@cricBC) May 17, 2018

DD watching RCB, KXIP, RR, KKR and MI fighting for playoffs. #IPL2018 pic.twitter.com/vhLQUWQ6r4

— sunil the cricketer (@1sInto2s) May 17, 2018

Not an easy ride for Bangalore. Sunrisers in hot pursuit of mighty target, scintillating Williamson showing the way.

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 17, 2018

*Strategic Timeout Indicated*
HaSRHa Bhogle: "Who wanted this! Batsmen were in such a good form ?"

— cricBC (@cricBC) May 17, 2018

Spent ten minutes thinking of a tweet for that AB catch. Couldn’t think of anything to match that effort .. In the words of every fan – Kya bandaaaaaa hai yaaar! Absolutely Boombastic DeVilliers ! Freak & genius go together for him #RCBvSRH

— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) May 17, 2018

This is how Ab De Villiers saves RCB in IPL #RCBvSRH pic.twitter.com/DnXIi5pL13

— Rishabh Srivastava (@AskRishabh) May 17, 2018

Dear Indian police, if you need someone to catch criminals, AB De Villiers is still in India.#RCBvSRH

— sunil the cricketer (@1sInto2s) May 17, 2018

Hey @BCCI ! Please just give the IPL trophy to AB De Villiers for this catch !!

— The Lying Lama 2.0 (@KyaUkhaadLega) May 17, 2018

Feel sorry for all the bowlers… Pls no one should blame them.. Pls remember they are all bowling to a freak and a phenomenal batsman called ABRAHAM DE VILLIERS.. Pls pray for the bowlers

— Kartik Murali (@kartikmurali) May 17, 2018

https://twitter.com/Jr_NTR_Fan/status/997147583930773505

Moeen Ali & AB De Villiers trying to form a majority in Karnataka. #RCBvSRH

— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) May 17, 2018

ABD's fifties in IPL 2018 and balls taken to do so:
50 off 36 balls vs KXIP
50 off 24 balls vs DD
50 off 23 balls vs CSK
50 off 28 balls vs DD
50 off 32 balls vs SRH(today)#RCBvSRH #IPL2018

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) May 17, 2018

As usual choker delivered for opponents at crucial time. #RCBvSRH pic.twitter.com/vkRw6NBOL3

— Chamiya Chokli (@ChokerKohli) May 17, 2018

that ball is now stuck in a bangalore traffic jam thanks to AB #RCBvSRH

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) May 17, 2018

You can’t keep The Khan away from the action….three wickets. Kohli, AB and Moeen. Worth a lot more. #RCBvSRH #IPL

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 17, 2018

https://twitter.com/ShikharFC/status/997141192243535873

Rashid practicing so really well at the venue he'll be representing his country in a Test match for the very first time in a month's time from now#RCBvSRH

— Abhay (@ImAbhay3) May 17, 2018

..and Rashid Khan is ‘the’ Eliachi in that biryani. #RCBvSRH https://t.co/9yU9ZhEJ2s

— Mon (@4sacinom) May 17, 2018

Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers in one night.

Rashid Khan just had every cricket fan's dream come true.#RCBvSRH

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) May 17, 2018

And Kohli won’t be able to get his own back against the Afghan spinners in the Test coming up…#RCBvSRH

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) May 17, 2018

https://twitter.com/i_kaka10/status/997126960185737216

https://twitter.com/imSujityd/status/997141374913990656

AB and Virat Kohli are the only 2 cricketers who make you hold your breath consistently when they bat, in every format on any surface at any time.#RCBvSRH

— Iron duke Jr. (@Iron_Duke89) May 17, 2018

Umpires Should Give 5 Runs When They Can't Decide Whether It's A 4 Or A 6..#RCBvSRH

— Babu Bhaiya (@Shahrcasm) May 17, 2018

https://twitter.com/brainfadesmith/status/997129769589264384

#RCB #RCBvSRH
Kaul should feel lucky that ABD left the 4th ball!!!
There was 6 written all over that…

— Bhaskar Biswas (@BhaskarSpeaking) May 17, 2018

If that dismissal to @rashidkhan_19 is anything to go by, Kohli's absence for the Afghanistan test might be a blessing in disguise LOL #RCBvSRH

— Jay Dansinghani ? (@JayDansinghani) May 17, 2018

Most 4s for RCB:

479 Virat Kohli
269* Ab divilliers
263 Chris Gayle#IPL2018 #RCBvSRH

— CricBeat (@Cric_beat) May 17, 2018

https://twitter.com/RoshniWalia45/status/997139345218854918