Royal Challengers Bangalore’s captain Virat Kohli is more desperate than anyone else to be in the IPL play-off. It was at display at Uppal when he singlehandedly took the responsibility to win the match for his team. But before all that happened, the Hyderabad Sunrisers did whatever they could do to put up a great show.
In a rain-curtailed match which was reduced to an 11-over a side, the hosts won the toss and elected to bat. The Sunrisers skipper David Warner (52 off 32 balls; 5X4, 1X6) and Moises Henriques (57 off 22 balls; 5X4, 4X6) were spot on with their approach and added 103 runs from the second wicket off 43 balls. With their help, the Sunrisers posted a very competitive total of 135 at the loss of three wickets.
After the Sunrisers put up a marvellous show, Kohli wore the most worried look. He knew this was the most important match for his team and he had to win this one at any cost. The revised target was equally steep – RCB needed 81 off six overs.
But Kohli didn’t lose focus and his opening partner Chris Gayle too joined his cause with his usual explosive mood and together they started collecting runs like no one’s business.
Gayle made 35 off just 10 balls with four boundaries and three sixes while Kohli stayed till the end to finish off things in style. The RCB captain remained unbeaten on 44 from 19 deliveries with three fours and sixes. RCB surpassed Sunrisers’ score in just 5.5 overs. It can’t get more desperate than this.
With this win, RCB strengthen their position in the points table and look to stay as one of top teams in the last match of their league phase, like other sides in the competition. The Sunrisers have one point less than RCB and still in the race if they can win their next match with a hope that a few of the other top team losing their 14th match of the IPL league stages.
