Sunrisers Hyderabad pulled off a nail-biting win over Royal Challengers Bangalore via the Super Over in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match in Hyderabad.
With both teams tied at 130 after the end of Hyderabad's innings, the result was decided with the help of a Super Over wherein both sides got six balls each.
Craig White smashed Vinay Kumar for two sixes, one each over long-on and long-off, to help Hyderabad score 20 runs in the Super Over.
In reply, Bangalore could manage only 15 against a fired-up Dale Steyn, despite Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli hitting a six and a four each.
Earlier, needing seven runs in the last over with four wickets in hand, Hyderabad could not cross the finishing line despite Man-of-the-Match Hanuma Vihari (44 not out) standing firm in the middle.
Chasing a competitive total, Hyderabad lost Parthiv Patel early to Moises Henriques, the Australian having the opener caught behind for just two.
Henriques soon struck again, this time removing Cameron White who lobbed a catch at mid-off.
Veteran off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan spinner was introduced in the ninth over and the Sri Lankan struck immediately, disturbing Akshat Reddy's off-stump.
Reddy's dismissal for 25 brought to the middle Hyderabad's best batsman, skipper Kumar Sangakkara.
At the halfway stage, Hyderabad were 56 for three, needing another 75 to record their second straight win. RCB were similarly placed at this stage of their innings.
But the most important thing for Hyderabad was that they had Sagakkara at the crease. Along with Hanuma Vihari, the left-hander added 33 runs for the fourth wicket, before Jaydev Unadkat's re-introduction into the attack did the trick for Bangalore. Unadkat induced Sangakkara to edge one that took off from a good length.
Thisara Perera smashed one back past the bowler first up but lack of discretion on his part show him throw away his wicket off a slower ball at a crucial juncture, with Hyderabad needing 33 off 25 balls.
Vinay then produced a brilliant work on the boundary, playing a big role in running out Amit Mishra. Ashish Reddy brought the equation down to 19 off 14 by hitting Vinay for a six over long-on. Vihari hit Vinay for a four to leave the home side within 14 from the last two overs.
Earlier, pacer Ishant Sharma led the way with three wickets as Hyderabad bowlers combined to restrict Bangalore to 130 for eight.
Opting to bat after winning the toss, Bangalore could never get the momentum going their way after losing Gayle in only the second over of the match. Skipper Kohli (46) and Moises Henriques (44) were the two substantial contributors with the bat.
Bangalore were dealt a body blow early on as young off-break bowler Hanuma Vihari had the dangerous Gayle caught behind with his first delivery of the match.
Tillakaratne Dilshan failed for the second time in a row, as the Sri Lankan was cleaned up by Ishant for just five runs.
Another young batsman in the RCB line-up, Karun Nair, too, did not last long as he was trapped in front by leg-spinner Amit Mishra, which left the visitors in some spot of bother at 42 for three in the eighth over. For the record, Mishra is the second highest wicket-taker in IPL.
There was a partnership between Kohli and Australian all-rounder Henriques that steadied the ship after the three blows with not much on the board.
Just when things were beginning to look better for Bangalore, medium pacer A Ashish Reddy struck an important blow, having Kohli caught off his own bowling.
The RCB skipper had added 43 runs for the fourth wicket with Henriques before his attempted drive through the leg side got a thin edge for Reddy to dive forward a complete a good catch. Kohli hit five fours and a six during his 44-ball knock.
Mayank Agarwal was sent back by Dale Steyn before Thisara Perera dismissed K B Arun Karthik. Henriques' battling innings ended when Ishant had him caught by Cameron White.
Photograph: BCCI
