Royal Challengers Bangalore 227/4 (20/20 ov)
Sunrisers Hyderabad 182/6 (20/20 ov)
Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 45 runs
Royal Challengers Bangalore clicked as a batting unit to beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 45 runs at home and start their campaign in the Indian Premier League on a winning note.
Hyderabad were never in the game after the rival top-order unloaded an avalanche of runs and posted them a target of 228 to chase.
Chris Gayle disappointed on his IPL start this year but that only was an invitation for the rest of the explosive Bangalore top order to come charging in.
After chugging along nicely till the ninth over, AB de Villiers took first turn at shifting gears with two sixes, the second a mammoth one off leg-spinner Karn Sharma.
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He was the first to reach a half-century, in quick time, followed by Virat Kohli who reached his milestone also with a six at Karn’s expense.
Gayle was bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and the fast bowler also came back to dismiss Kohli. Between the first and second dismissal, Bangalore had racked up 157 runs with the final four overs to come.
The talented Bangladesh left-arm bowler Mustafizur claimed the wickets of De Villiers and Shane Watson, who hit three sixes in an eight-ball 19, to give a semblance of a fightback for Hyderabad.
But Bangalore had one pocket dynamo charge left in the diminutive Sarfaraz Khan. Tillakaratne Dilshan invented the “Dilscoop” shot and last played for Bangalore in 2013 and had the highest base price set for him in February’s auction before going unsold.
His absence was hardly felt as Sarfaraz dealt only in scoops, a square cut and one straight drive for his shots. The highlight of a 10-ball unbeaten cameo of 35 runs included a 4, 4, 6, 4 and 4 off Bhuvneshwar.
Bangalore’s total of 227 for four was the first 200-plus score on the scoreboard this season.
Sarfaraz had even Gayle impressed who said in an interview from the sidelines: “Sarfaraz is my buddy, he is like a son to me. The way he played tonight was fantastic. He is definitely one to watch out for.”
De Villiers was man of the match but Watson was seen hugging Sarfaraz after the match.
“It is always important to start well and find your identity as a team,” De Villiers said after receiving his award. “This is the kind of cricket we want to play this year.”
Hyderabad’s best chance to overhaul the target was for the dangerous Shikhar Dhawan and captain David Warner to match their rivals’ attacking start. But Dhawan (eight) was bowled early by Parvez Rasool.
Once Warner’s heroics ended with an impressive 25-ball 58, including five sixes and four boundaries, Hyderabad werealways chasing the leather with an occasional swat for a maximum.
They finished on 182 for six, a total which would have been a winning one on any other day. “I won’t take it away from AB and Kohli,” Warner said. “Sarfaraz did his bit as well. It was a tough ask for the boys.”
Wednesday's match Kolkata Knight Riders v Mumbai Indians
The Mumbai Indians batsmen must have had some nerves in training going into the match against Kolkata Knight Riders at their formidable home at Eden Gardens. Mumbai had Harbhajan Singh’s 45 runs to thank for their total of 121 which was insufficient against Rising Pune Supergiants. And Rohit Sharma’s men were looking over their shoulders to look out for signs if Sunil Narine will be playing. Kolkata won their first game without the spinner who attended his father’s funeral but was at the ground on Tuesday.
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