SRH maintains 100% record in defending low totals this season of IPL; defeats RCB

Hyderabad, May 8: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Monday defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by 5 runs as they maintained their 100% record in defending low totals this season.

 

Notably, after posting 146 runs batting first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad, the Sunrisers came back strongly and restricted RCB at 141 in their stipulated 20 overs. Put in to bat, the Sunrisers lost Alex Hales, Shikhar Dhawan, and Manish Pandey with just 48 runs on the board.

The innings was revived by Kane Williamson, who once again batted responsibly. He found an able ally in Shakib al Hasan, with whom he added 64 runs for the fourth wicket. But after both batsmen dismissed in the space of eight deliveries, the innings collapsed in a heap as SRH lost 5 wickets for 12 in the last two overs to be bowled out for 146.

At the end of their powerplay, RCB were 55-1, with Parthiv Patel and Virat Kohli seemingly having the chase under control. After Parthiv was dismissed LBW, RCB lost three wickets including those of captain Kohli and AB de Villiers in quick time to slip to 84-5. Even a 57-run partnership between Mandeep Singh 21 not out and Colin de Grandhomme 33 runs could only take them to 141.

Brief Scores:

Sunrisers Hyderabad 146 (Kane Williamson 56, Shakib al Hasan 35, Mohammed Siraj 3-25, Tim Southee 3-30) beat

Royal Challengers Bangalore (Virat Kohli 39, Colin de Grandhomme 33*, Shakib al Hasan 2-36) by 5 runs.

Man of the Match:

Kane Williamson, for his 39-ball 56 – the only half-century of the match.