IPL 2018, RCB vs SRH: RCB hold nerve to win high-scoring thriller
Yet another classy innings in a losing cause in this IPL. But Williamson can be really proud of this, perhaps his best T20 knock, showing that he has a gear that we haven't seen yet. Pandey's runs are as heartening, just as his lack of finishing skills was worrying. Credit to RCB, the team that everyone had written off just a week or so ago, have earned themselves a chance.
FollowRoyal Challengers keep their hopes alive with a 14-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad.
What a match that was. Williamson played out of skin to try and get close to the target and only fell in the final over, Pandey was slow initially but started turning it on later. But it was the batsmen who set it up for the home side, specifically AB de Villiers and Moeen Ali. Basil Thampi's four overs proved very costly for Hyderabad. And with that victory, now four teams are tied on six wins from 13 games, and they're all vying for a spot in the playoffs. Hyderabad, along with Chennai, of course, have qualified.
All smiles in the RCB camp. They managed to do the jail-break this time after being poisoned during the death overs many times. Siraj was a relieved man. Kohli can afford a beaming smile now. They know they are still in it. Another rip-roaring game. Full of boundaries and runs. And in the end, how much do you credit Tim Southee for bowling that 17th over, when he conceded only 6 runs. That for me was the speed breaker for SRH, which put off the equation a bit and left them a bit more to do in the last over.
RCB 218/6 (20.0 Ovs)
SRH 204/3 (20.0 Ovs)
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
AB de Villiers
But my word, the innings from Kane who choke-slammed every bowler that came his way and the catch from ABD. A highlights package is what the game looked like as almost every ball kept taking the full journey. And yes, dropped catches only added more to the theatre called T20.
After Hyderabad decided to bowl first, Bangalore put on an excellent batting display, scoring 218/6 in 20 overs. Though Kohli scored only 12, De Villiers played well to score 69 runs from 39 balls. Moeen Ali too played well to score 65 from 34. Grandhomme scored 40 runs from 17 balls. Sarfaraz Khan added 22 in the end. Rashid Khan took three wickets for Hyderabad.
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