Wednesday 24 / April / 2024
Hyderabad: Swashbuckling opener David Warner slammed a whirlwind 50-ball 92 to set up a comfortable 15-run win for Sunrisers Hyderabad over Royal Challengers Bangalore in their IPL match here on Saturday.
Warner hit nine fours and five sixes and shared a 124-run stand for the second wicket with Kane Williamson (50) to power Hyderabad to an imposing 194-5 after they were inserted by Bangalore following a delayed start due to rain.
The hosts then returned to restrict Bangalore for 179 for 6 and notch up their fourth win in seven matches. It was RCB’s fourth loss in six matches.
For Hyderabad, all the five bowlers -- Ashish Nehra (1/32), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/36), Mustafizur Rahman (1/34), Barinder Sran (1/36) and Moises Henriques (1/40) picked up one wicket each.
Chasing for the first time this season, RCB lost their first wicket when skipper Virat Kohli (14) stepped out and tried to play an uppish shot only to hold out to Ashish Reddy at backward point.
Lokesh Rahul smashed a 28-ball 51 studded with six boundaries and a six but he was dismissed by Henriques on the last ball of the 10th over when he tried to run the ball down to third man only to end up giving a catch to wicket-keeper Naman Ojha as RCB slipped to 83-2.
AB de Villiers had conjured up hopes of a successful run chase for a brief period but he was soon caught at long-on by a diving Williamson. The South African blasted 47 runs off 32 balls with the help of three fours and two sixes.
Shane Watson too was back to the hut when he tried to steal a second run and Sran’s throw found him short of wicket in the 12th over.
Sachin Baby (27) and Kedar Jadhav (25 not out) tried their bit but it was too little and too late in the end.
Earlier, Warner played a captain’s knock, sharing a 124-run stand with Williamson (50) to lay the foundation for a huge score.
Playing his first game in IPL-9 after recovering from an injury, Williamson was perfect foil to Warner in an innings where he blasted seven boundaries in 38 balls.
Australian all-rounder Moises Henriques then provided the late charge with a 14-ball 31 laced with three sixes and a boundary to take Hyderabad close to the 200-mark.
For Bangalore, Kane Richardson picked two wickets, while Shane Watson (1/33) and Tabraiz Shamsi (1/39) snapped one each at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
Brief scores: Sunrisers Hyderabad 194/5 in 20 overs (David Warner 92; Kane Richardson 2/45) bt Royal Challengers Bangalore 179/6 in 20 overs (Lokesh Rahul 51; Ashish Nehra 1/32).
