Photographs: BCCI
Virat Kohli came up with a captain's innings, scoring a blistering, unbeaten 93 as Royal Challengers Bangalore
beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets in a Pepsi Indian Premier League match, in Bangalore, on Tuesday.
Chasing a challenging target of 162, Kohli smashed Sunrisers' bowlers all round the park to singlehandedly guide the home side to victory.
His 47-ball 93, studded with 11 fours and four sixes. saw RCB win with 14 balls to spare and avenge the defeat it suffered in the first meeting on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, RP Singh struck with the first delivery of his second over to send an over-ambitious Akshath Reddy back to the pavilion.
Reddy, looking to clear the in-field failed, failed to connect cleanly and ended up giving a simple catch to Vinay Kumar at wide mid-on.
He scored 14.
Murali ends flourishing Patel-Sanga stand
Image: Wicketkeeper Arun Karthik celebrates as Parthiv Patel looks back to find his bails dislodgedPhotographs: BCCI
Former Sri Lanka spin ace Muttaih Muralitharan ended a flourishing partnership between Parthiv Patel and Kumar Sangakkara, striking with the fifth delivery of his second over.
Vital breakthrough by Muralitharan
Image: Muralitharan rejoices after bowling Parthiv PatelPhotographs: BCCI
That was a vital breakthrough by Muralitharan, as Patel and Sangakkara were finding runs easily.
Patel went in for a huge swing through the covers, but the ball spun back into the left-hander and clipped off stump, much to the delight of the bowler.
Patel scored 20 off 19 deliveries.
Murali Karthik foxes Sangakkara
Image: Murali Karthik celebrates the wicket of Kumar SangakkaraPhotographs: BCCI
Murali Karthik got among the wickets, dismissing Kumar Sangakkara for 23.
The Sri Lankan came down the track to send one over the bowler's head but only ended up getting a bottom edge and being caught in covers by Virat Kohli.
Perera to the rescue
Image: Thisara PereraPhotographs: BCCI
At the end of 11 overs Sunrisers were in a bi of trouble at 64-3. But Cameron White and Thisara Perera not only steadied the innings but built on it.
And just when it looked as if the pair would bat through the innings Perera fell in the 18th over.
R P Singh, back for his second spell, bowled the Sri Lankan after he had scored an entertaining 40, with the total 142.
Cameron White lifts Sunrisers to fighting total
Image: Cameron White celebrates after getting to fiftyPhotographs: BCCI
Cameron White also used the long handle to good effect.
He and Perera were involved in an 80-run partnership for the fourth wicket that ensured Sunrisers put up a fighting total of 161-6.
White got to 50 with a six of Vinay Kumar before he was dismissed by the same bowler in the 19th over after a well-compiled 52.
Perera strikes with first delivery
Image: Kumar Sangakkara catches Mayank AgarwalPhotographs: BCCI
Thisara Perera was introduced into the attack in the sixth over and he struck with his first delivery, dismissing Mayank Agarwal.
The Royal Challengers opener, looking pull a short delivery from Perera, was beaten by the extra bounce as the ball went high in the air and was safely pouched by Kumar Sangakkara in the covers.
Agarwal the aggressor!
Image: Mayank AgarwalPhotographs: BCCI
Agarwal, though, gave the team a good start, scoring 29 off 20 balls, including three boundaries and two sixes.
In fact, he was more aggressive than Chris Gayle, the other opener. After the first four overs, when RCB were 24 without loss, Agarwal was on 18 and Gayle on 6.
Ishant sends Gayle packing
Image: Ishant Sharma celebrates as Chris Gayle walks backPhotographs: BCCI
Ishant Sharma returned for his third over and struck with his first delivery, dismissing Chirs Gayle.
The West Indies ace, who was subdued early on, rocked back in his crease looking to slash the ball, only to edge it to Parthiv Patel behind the stumps.
He was out for 13 and at the end of seven overs RCB were 48-2.
White cuts short De Villiers's stay
Image: Thisara Perera and Hanuma Vihari celebrate the dismissal of AB de VilliersPhotographs: BCCI
Cameron White was introduced in the 12th over and went 14 runs before dismissing AB de Villiers with the last delivery of the over.
He had the batsman caught at midwicket for 15. It was a rank half-tracker, and De Villiers hit it straight to Hanuma Vihari, who took a good lo catch.
Kohli guides RCB home
Image: Virat KohliPhotographs: BCCI
Virat Kohli, however, came up with a captain's knock to see Royal Challengers home in the end and avenge the defeat the team suffered two days back.
Just when it looked all was lost for the home side, he blazed his way to brilliant 47-ball 93 and clinched victory with 14 balls to spare.
Comment
article