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RCB gain 'consolation' victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad

general25 April 2024 18:01
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Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar struck contrasting half centuries to help the Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a much-needed 35-run victory in their IPL match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabada on Thursday.

The beleaguered Royal Challengers remain at the bottom of the 10-team log but a competitive total of 206-7 was good enough for just a second victory in nine matches as the ultra-aggressive Sunrisers batting approach misfired and they stumbled to 171-8 in reply.

SRH opener Abhishek Sharma smashed 31 from 13 balls (3x4, 2x6) and captain Pat Cummins weighed in with 31 from 15 balls with three sixes but Aiden Markram (7) missed a straight full toss and Heinrich Klaasen (7) sliced a drive to mid on as the SRH middle order disappeared in quick time.

Earlier Kohli, often criticised for his low strike rate, made a sedate 51 from 43 balls (4x4, 1x6) while Patidar galloped to 50 from just 20 balls with two fours and five sixes before both were caught on the boundary off the bowling of left arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat who finished with 3-30.

Captain Faf du Plessis also made a flying start with 25 from only 12 balls (3x4, 1x6) but a cleverly disguised slower ball bouncer from T Natarajan saw him toe-end a slap-cut to Aiden Markram at cover.

Australian allrounder Cameron Green was smartly denied much of the strike in the final couple of overs and finished on 37* from 20 balls (5x4) when more seemed probable.

There were some peculiar decisions made by SRH captain Cummins who conceded 19 runs from his first over but still completed his four overs at a withering cost of 55 yet Shabhaz Ahmed (3-0-14-0) and opening bowlers Abhishek Sharma (1-0-10-0) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1-0-14-0) were under bowled.

The visitors had good reason to be intimidated having already conceded an IPL record total of 287-3 against the Sunrisers at their home venue, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, but they showed immense character with a ‘payback’ victory.

The Royal Challengers are almost certainly out of contention for a place in the playoff matches but they did, at least, salvage some pride.

The Sunrisers remain – for now - in a share of second place along with the Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants but have played a game more.

They are four points behind the Rajasthan Royals who have played seven matches to SRH’s eight.

SUNRISERS HYDERABAD: Abhishek Sharma, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen (wkt), Nitish Reddy, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Pat Cummins (captain), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Mayank Markande, T Natarajan

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BENGALURU: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (captain), Rajat Patidar, Cameron Green, Will Jacks, Dinesh Karthik (wkt), Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal

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