A cool-and-collected 67-run-stand between Kane Williamson and Jason Holder has helped SunRisers Hyderabad claim their 4th consecutive win and in turn knock Royal Challengers Bangalore out of IPL 2020.
Defending a mere 131, the Royal Challengers Bangalore desperately needed an early wicket, which is exactly what they got from the fast bowling duo of Mohammed Siraj and Navdeep Saini.
Siraj beautifully exploited the hint of movement that was on offer and as a result, he induced an outside edge off Shreevats Goswami’s bat to reduce SunRisers Hyderabad to 1/2 in the 1st over.
David Warner and Manish Pandey were initially cautious but they ensured that they dispatched the poor deliveries to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Warner smashed Siraj for consecutive boundaries in the 6th over but the right-hander came back brilliantly to cut Warner in half and kiss his gloves as AB de Villiers completed the catch. The on-field decision of not-out was eventually overturned after a long deliberation by 3rd umpire Virender Sharma, following a DRS call by RCB.
With no dew around and the pitch slowing down, RCB needed their spinners to take the game by the scruff off its neck in the middle overs.
Adam Zampa (1-12 in 4 overs) was right on the money from the very first ball he bowled and the pressure that he had built on Manish Pandey (24 off 21 balls) eventually resulted in a wicket after the latter edged one to ABD while trying to back away and cut the leg-spinner. SRH- 3-55.
Zampa gave just six runs in his first three overs while Chahal conceded 10 in his 2 overs as SRH managed just 16 runs between 6-11 with Kane Williamson and Priyam Garg (7 off 13 balls) struggling against the spin duo.
And, the pressure of dot balls eventually got to Garg, who in an attempt to chip Chahal over deep extra-cover holed out to Adam Zampa in the very next over.
With SunRisers Hyderabad in a hole against spinners, they once again needed Jason Holder and Williamson to hold the innings together.
Kane Williamson stroked the first boundary in 25 balls when he smoked Sundar for a six over deep midwicket in the 14th over.
The equation eventually boiled down to 45 off 30 balls after the duo milked Zampa for six singles in the preceding over. Williamson nailed another crucial six against Chahal in the 17th over after the first 5 balls had yielded just 4 runs.
Kane Williamson regained his elements to the hilt after a scratchy start as he stroked yet another timely boundary in the next over bowled by Shivam Dube as SunRisers Hyderabad brought their 100 up in the 17th over.
With 28 needed off 18, RCB needed Saini and Siraj to back up their spinners. Saini very nearly got Williamson thanks to a brilliant effort by Devdutt Padikkal at the deep midwicket boundary, who unfortunately could not take the catch on the rebound after he lost his footing.
And, Williamson [50 not-out off 44 balls] proceeded to rub salt on the wounds as he cheekily dabbed Saini towards third-man for another timely boundary. Siraj gave 9 runs in the penultimate over, leaving Navdeep Saini nine runs in the bank to defend in the final over. The Kiwi skipper brought up his half-century with a single on the 1st delivery before Jason Holder [24 not-out off 20 balls] used his long levers to smash consecutive fours to knock RCB out of the IPL.
Royal Challengers Bangalore made a mere 131 against a relentless SunRisers Hyderabad attack
Batting first, Royal Challengers Bangalore made a tactical punt by slotting skipper Virat Kohli at the opening spot.
But the move, unfortunately, did not work as Jason Holder strangled the charismatic batsman down the leg-side for a 7-ball 6. Holder once again bowled beautifully in the powerplay. The tall all-rounder gave literally nothing away and claimed two prized scalps in Kohli and the inform Devdutt Padikkal.
Padikkal, who had struggled his way to a 5-ball 1, perished while trying to pull Holder towards mid-wicket. With the score reading 2-23 after 5 overs, Royal Challengers Bangalore needed a bit of magic from the duo of AB de Villiers and Aaron Finch.
But the spin duo of Shahbaz Nadeem and Rashid Khan ensured that the stranglehold was maintained as de Villiers and Finch struggled to get going as RCB hobbled their way to 2-45 after 9 overs.
Aaron Finch made his intentions clear immediately after the time-out when he stroked a six off Rashid Khan but one shot proved too many for the Australian as he holed out in the next over after he mistimed an inside-out lofted drive against Nadeem.
And, to make things even worse, Moeen Ali proceeded to get run-out on a free-hit in the very same over after he ran for a non-existent run following a drive to covers. Rashid Khan’s rocket throw did the rest.
Shivam Dube survived a close LBW call against Rashid Khan but he failed to make it count thanks to that man again, Jason Holder, who came back in his second spell to dismiss the southpaw for a 13-ball 8.
AB de Villiers looked like getting back into his groove after a slow start after he thumped a few classy boundaries. ‘Mr 360°’ brought up his 50 and his sides’ hundred with a flick off Holder. But RCB needed a lot more from their champion batsman.
But T Natarajan’s with his deadly yorker ensured that he got rid of ABD [56 off 43 balls] ensured that the Royal Challengers Bangalore did not get the flourish that they desperately needed, eventually ending at an underwhelming 131 after 20 overs.
Here’s how Twitter reacted-
They say Cricket is a batsman's game. But there is one team who keep letting their game do the talking, make every ball count and prove it otherwise. Doesn't matter if it's world's best batsman who are on the other side.
Congratulations @SunRisers #RCBvSRH
— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu) November 6, 2020
So happy for Williamson. So sad for ABD. #RCBvSRH
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) November 6, 2020
Wasn’t just Bangalore’s night but Hyderabad now officially are the most dangerous of the The Three! @SunRisers #SRHvsRCB #IPL2020
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) November 6, 2020
SRH deserve this final. RCB didn’t #RCBvSRH
— Manak Gupta (@manakgupta) November 6, 2020
They rise to the occasion @SunRisers I know it will be #JasonHolder but my man of the match #Natrajan
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) November 6, 2020
Well batted @KaneWilliamson2 & @Jasonholder89 taking @SunRisers through to semis of IPL2020. Gud luck to The team
— Naman Ojha (@namanojha35) November 6, 2020
RCB in #IPL2020
First 10 matches – 7 wins
Last 5 matches – 5 losses #RCBvsSRH— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) November 6, 2020
Nail biter tonight ! What a victory for @SunRisers , @Jaseholder98 was the difference! Kudos to @RCBTweets for giving a fight to the end! #RCBvsSRH #IPL2020
— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) November 6, 2020
I always feel @RCBTweets is a good good team.They need one finisher lower down the order,preferably an Indian https://t.co/L0yFGiRc9u will make things so much easier for #Abd #ViratKohli and the team
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) November 6, 2020
Adam Zampa, 12 runs from four overs. Takes tap on occasion – what leggie doesn't – but he's a fantastic T20 bowler. #IPL2020 #SRHvRCB
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) November 6, 2020
Stunning effort by RCB’s bowlers. Whatever the outcome. Great call to play Zampa as well. Cliffhanger this. SRH would be confident if Williamson & Holder bat till the end. #SRHvsRCB #IPL2020
— Raunak Kapoor (@RaunakRK) November 6, 2020
The last time RCB successfully defended a sub-150 total in IPL was way back in 2009.#SRHvsRCB
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) November 6, 2020
— Rahul Sharma (@ImRahulSharma3) November 6, 2020
Credit to @RCBTweets, they are scrapping. The pitch is a friend too
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 6, 2020
The game will be decided by that one big over for each sides. That over which will close the gap between runs and balls. The later it comes, the longer RCB stay on top.
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) November 6, 2020
Big test for young Priyam Garg! RCB are game!#IPL2020 #SRHvRCB
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) November 6, 2020
Siraj scores runs, Siraj takes wicket, Siraj takes quality DRS. Tum apna trophy rakh lo, we have Siraj ❤. #IPL
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) November 6, 2020
The ball is turning. No dew. This will be a tight chase!
— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) November 6, 2020
Mohammad Siraj in Powerplay (IPL)
2017-19: 23 overs | Five wkts | ER 10.43
2020: 13 overs | Seven wkts | ER 7.00#SRHvRCB— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) November 6, 2020
Most runs in an IPL season for Manish Pandey
402*for SRH (2020)
401 for KKR (2014)
396 for KKR (2016)
344 for SRH (2019)#SRHvRCB #IPL2020— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) November 6, 2020
Wow. Feel for Virender Sharma the TV Umpire. That's as hard as it gets. For me though, there isn't enough conclusive evidence to overturn the on-field umpire's call. Should've been not out. But if Ravi gave that out, on field, should have stuck as well. #SRHvsRCB #IPL2020
— Raunak Kapoor (@RaunakRK) November 6, 2020
"Fair play. The TV umpire has access to so much technology, and ultimately we have to trust the process", is what I *think* Warner was mouthing as he walked off. #IPL2020
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) November 6, 2020
Run him out, said AB. He forgot Moeen can't bat for both teams. He's not the common.
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) November 6, 2020
No-ball and free-hit for wicket-keeper breaking the stumps too? Don't think I have ever seen that before.
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) November 6, 2020
Brilliant bowling from @SunRisers that Yorker from #natarajan to #abd was top notch.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) November 6, 2020
Most Yorkers at the Death in this IPL
T Natarajan – 37
Trent Boult – 20
Kartik Tyagi – 17
Mohammed Shami – 16
Jofra Archer – 15
Chris Jordan – 15Natarajan has bowled as many yorkers as the next two bowlers combined in this IPL.#IPL2020 #RCBvSRH #SRH
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) November 6, 2020
T Natarajan’s jersey has “JP Nattu” on it. JP is a mark of respect for his mentor Jayaprakash who spotted Natarajan as a tennis ball cricketer
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) November 6, 2020
Natarajan IPL 2020 wickets includes
Virat Kohli
Shane Watson
MS Dhoni
Andre Russell
AB De Villiers— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) November 6, 2020
Neither Trump nor Biden got Washington. Natarajan did.
— Ramki (@ramkid) November 6, 2020
?? OH MY MYYY!!! @Natarajan_91 ??
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) November 6, 2020
Just call him Yorker Natarajan!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 6, 2020
Most wickets in overs 16-20 this IPL
16 K Rabada
14 J Bumrah
12 T Natarajan *
11 M Shami
9 J Holder *#SRHvRCB— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) November 6, 2020
Jason Holder. That’s the tweet
— Shai Hope (@shaidhope) November 6, 2020
This is RCB's joint lowest total after 15 overs in this IPL.
93/4 v SRH – Today
93/4 v SRH (31st Oct) – Lost
95/7 v KXIP – Lost
95/4 v CSK- Won
101/2 v CSK – Lost
103/2 v DC – Lost
105/5 v DC (5th Oct) – Lost#IPL2020 #SRHvRCB #SRH #RCB— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) November 6, 2020
I love Moeen Ali, but it is so on brand to literally get out off a free hit.
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) November 6, 2020
Moeen Ali gets out on a free-hit. Remember Robin Peterson getting out run out on a free hit in India's first ever T20 international at Johannesburg in 2006
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) November 6, 2020
Moeen Ali wouldn't have run had this been a normal delivery, but he ran coz HOW CAN YOU WASTE A FREE HIT? Gully Cricket Level Thinking ???
— That Cricket Guy? (@_Vivek_50) November 6, 2020
Moeen Ali is run out off a Free Hit!
Nobody, nobody gives content like RCB.
What a team.
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) November 6, 2020
Moeen Ali is the first batsman in the history of the IPL to be run out on the first delivery he faced of a free hit.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 6, 2020
— Mask up and take your vaccine???? (@ashwinravi99) November 6, 2020
Run out in a free hit #RCB !!!!!!#RCBvSRH
— RK (@RK_sports) November 6, 2020
as if it isn't hard enough to tackle rashid's four overs #RCBvSRH #IPL2020
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) November 6, 2020
Most Wickets in this IPL – Since Holder has featured for SRH
Jason Holder – 12
Jasprit Bumrah – 12
Trent Boult – 10
Varun Chakravarthy – 10
Sandeep Sharma – 9
Patrick Cummins – 9
Rashid Khan – 8
Anrich Nortje – 8#IPL2020 #SRHvRCB #SRH— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) November 6, 2020
This is a very nervous, jumpy start from @RCBTweets. Enjoy watching Jason Holder play.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 6, 2020
The last time RCB successfully defended a sub-150 total in IPL was way back in 2009.#SRHvsRCB
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) November 6, 2020
— Rahul Sharma (@ImRahulSharma3) November 6, 2020
Credit to @RCBTweets, they are scrapping. The pitch is a friend too
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 6, 2020
The game will be decided by that one big over for each sides. That over which will close the gap between runs and balls. The later it comes, the longer RCB stay on top.
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) November 6, 2020
Big test for young Priyam Garg! RCB are game!#IPL2020 #SRHvRCB
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) November 6, 2020
Siraj scores runs, Siraj takes wicket, Siraj takes quality DRS. Tum apna trophy rakh lo, we have Siraj ❤. #IPL
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) November 6, 2020
The ball is turning. No dew. This will be a tight chase!
— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) November 6, 2020
Mohammad Siraj in Powerplay (IPL)
2017-19: 23 overs | Five wkts | ER 10.43
2020: 13 overs | Seven wkts | ER 7.00#SRHvRCB— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) November 6, 2020
Most runs in an IPL season for Manish Pandey
402*for SRH (2020)
401 for KKR (2014)
396 for KKR (2016)
344 for SRH (2019)#SRHvRCB #IPL2020— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) November 6, 2020
Wow. Feel for Virender Sharma the TV Umpire. That's as hard as it gets. For me though, there isn't enough conclusive evidence to overturn the on-field umpire's call. Should've been not out. But if Ravi gave that out, on field, should have stuck as well. #SRHvsRCB #IPL2020
— Raunak Kapoor (@RaunakRK) November 6, 2020
"Fair play. The TV umpire has access to so much technology, and ultimately we have to trust the process", is what I *think* Warner was mouthing as he walked off. #IPL2020
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) November 6, 2020
Run him out, said AB. He forgot Moeen can't bat for both teams. He's not the common.
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) November 6, 2020
No-ball and free-hit for wicket-keeper breaking the stumps too? Don't think I have ever seen that before.
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) November 6, 2020
Brilliant bowling from @SunRisers that Yorker from #natarajan to #abd was top notch.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) November 6, 2020
Most Yorkers at the Death in this IPL
T Natarajan – 37
Trent Boult – 20
Kartik Tyagi – 17
Mohammed Shami – 16
Jofra Archer – 15
Chris Jordan – 15Natarajan has bowled as many yorkers as the next two bowlers combined in this IPL.#IPL2020 #RCBvSRH #SRH
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) November 6, 2020
T Natarajan’s jersey has “JP Nattu” on it. JP is a mark of respect for his mentor Jayaprakash who spotted Natarajan as a tennis ball cricketer
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) November 6, 2020
Natarajan IPL 2020 wickets includes
Virat Kohli
Shane Watson
MS Dhoni
Andre Russell
AB De Villiers— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) November 6, 2020
Neither Trump nor Biden got Washington. Natarajan did.
— Ramki (@ramkid) November 6, 2020
?? OH MY MYYY!!! @Natarajan_91 ??
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) November 6, 2020
Just call him Yorker Natarajan!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 6, 2020
Most wickets in overs 16-20 this IPL
16 K Rabada
14 J Bumrah
12 T Natarajan *
11 M Shami
9 J Holder *#SRHvRCB— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) November 6, 2020
Jason Holder. That’s the tweet
— Shai Hope (@shaidhope) November 6, 2020
This is RCB's joint lowest total after 15 overs in this IPL.
93/4 v SRH – Today
93/4 v SRH (31st Oct) – Lost
95/7 v KXIP – Lost
95/4 v CSK- Won
101/2 v CSK – Lost
103/2 v DC – Lost
105/5 v DC (5th Oct) – Lost#IPL2020 #SRHvRCB #SRH #RCB— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) November 6, 2020
I love Moeen Ali, but it is so on brand to literally get out off a free hit.
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) November 6, 2020
Moeen Ali gets out on a free-hit. Remember Robin Peterson getting out run out on a free hit in India's first ever T20 international at Johannesburg in 2006
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) November 6, 2020
Moeen Ali wouldn't have run had this been a normal delivery, but he ran coz HOW CAN YOU WASTE A FREE HIT? Gully Cricket Level Thinking ???
— That Cricket Guy? (@_Vivek_50) November 6, 2020
Moeen Ali is run out off a Free Hit!
Nobody, nobody gives content like RCB.
What a team.
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) November 6, 2020
Moeen Ali is the first batsman in the history of the IPL to be run out on the first delivery he faced of a free hit.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 6, 2020
— Mask up and take your vaccine???? (@ashwinravi99) November 6, 2020
Run out in a free hit #RCB !!!!!!#RCBvSRH
— RK (@RK_sports) November 6, 2020
as if it isn't hard enough to tackle rashid's four overs #RCBvSRH #IPL2020
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) November 6, 2020
Most Wickets in this IPL – Since Holder has featured for SRH
Jason Holder – 12
Jasprit Bumrah – 12
Trent Boult – 10
Varun Chakravarthy – 10
Sandeep Sharma – 9
Patrick Cummins – 9
Rashid Khan – 8
Anrich Nortje – 8#IPL2020 #SRHvRCB #SRH— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) November 6, 2020
This is a very nervous, jumpy start from @RCBTweets. Enjoy watching Jason Holder play.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 6, 2020
The pitch report was right! Holder is making the game in the Powerplay!
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) November 6, 2020
Virat Kohli in the IPL – Last Five Years
As Opener – Average : 51.6, Scoring Rate – 8.73
#3 – Average : 42.5, Scoring Rate – 7.67Kohli promoted himself up the order in the crucial game today. Traditionally has done well in the position, didn't work out today#IPL2020 #SRHvRCB
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) November 6, 2020
Kohli's birthday yesterday, Holder's too.
Gifting just happened.#IPL2020 #RCBvSRH
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) November 6, 2020
Holder so far ?
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) November 6, 2020
Finch looks like a fish out of water. Horribly out of sorts.
— Yash ?? (@im_yash2307) November 6, 2020
Finch walking down to Holder will make good length a short ball. Not quite the easiest as the pitch report said, SRH will not want to give bad balls
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) November 6, 2020
Battle of November 5 born:
Holder: 1
Kohli: 0
Monu Singh: ∞— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) November 6, 2020
matlab soft dismissals toh given hai knockout matches mei
— ???????? (@Kohliesque) November 6, 2020
Kohli bhai. Dil se bura lagta hai bhai.
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) November 6, 2020