An intelligent bowling performance from Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) laid the platform for an eight-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) here on Monday.
SRH bowlers made life hard for the RCB batsmen by frequently changing the pace off their deliveries.
Batting first, the home team’s formidable hitters failed to provide the expected fireworks, and the side could only manage 166. SRH had it easier, as the RCB bowlers were not as keen to mix it up. David Warner (57, 27b) was only too happy to capitalise, and his teammates to follow only had to keep their cool.
Faced with a manageable asking rate after Warner’s exploits, SRH was led home through steady knocks from Shikhar Dhawan (50 n.o., 42b) and K.L. Rahul (44 n.o., 28b). The clinical show gave SRH its first win in two matches.
After electing to field, the SRH bowlers — apart from the express Trent Boult — resorted to the slower ones to telling effect. None of the RCB batsmen were able to counter the ploy and the frustration led to the loss of wickets at regular intervals.
Chris Gayle, RCB’s hero in the season opener, began brightly. A straight six off Boult in the opening over was greeted with loud cheers from the fans, but he did not last long. The wily Praveen Kumar, brought in first-change, induced a mishit in the sixth over to dismiss Gayle for 21.
Dinesh Karthik looked edgy during his brief stint at the crease, before falling for nine. Opener Virat Kohli seemed comfortable when the ball was delivered at full tilt, but Ravi Bopara was not about to make life easy for the RCB captain.
Stunning catch
The English all-rounder tested Kohli’s patience with a leg-cutter, and the batsman responded with a cut. A complete miss sent Kohli back bowled for a 37-ball 41. Mandeep Singh fell the very next ball, with David Warner pulling off a stunning one-handed catch at covers.
RCB had trudged along to 93 for four in 12 overs, leaving A.B. de Villiers with the task of pushing the scoring rate along. The South African, however, could only fire in spurts. The now patented sweep was used against the fast men, but the inviting full deliveries on the pads were few and far between.
In the 19th over, his knock ended after a sliced drive off Boult found Dhawan at deep cover.
The Kiwi bowler then took out Sean Abbott and Harshal Patel in quick succession, leaving Bhuvneshwar Kumar to handle the tail. Bhuvneshwar, much like his Statemate Praveen, bowled his share of cutters.
Two wickets for the Uttar Pradesh lad in the final over was enough to call time on the RCB innings.
The SRH bowling unit may not be the most threatening, but this was a victory of acumen over talent.
