Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are on a roll, as they beat the table-toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad by 14 runs in a high-scoring encounter at the jam-packed Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
Bangalore posted a massive total on the board despite getting a poor start. However, a timely partnership between AB de Villiers (69) and Moeen Ali (65) ensured they don’t fall back. The pair added 107 runs from 57 balls to set the perfect platform for the batsmen to come.
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New Zealand all-rounder, Colin de Grandhomme’s (40) late cameo guided RCB to post 218 runs on the board.
Hyderabad, in reply, got off to a good start, however, lost two wickets in successions. The Sunrisers skipper Kane Williamson (81) and Manish Pandey (62*) kept the visitors in the hunt.
Meanwhile, the host held their nerves in the fag end of the game, as Mohammad Siraj pulled off a brilliant last over to bring two crucial points for the side.
Here is the players rating of RCB:
Virat Kohli (c): (4/10)
Kohli got off to a good start but failed to capitalise on that. Rashid Khan bamboozled him, as he got out for 12 runs.
However, the camp will bank on him to get to be in his prime form in the rest of the games.
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Parthiv Patel (wk): (1/10)
After a good outing in the last game, the experienced wicket-keeper batsman got out cheaply. Parthiv will have to come in handy to provide a good start to his team.
Moeen Ali: (8.5/10)
The English all-rounder is making an early mark in the tournament. Moeen Ali contributed with both and ball, as Bangalore grabbed two crucial points. Moeen scored 65 runs to steady the innings before returning with one for 21 in his three overs.
AB de Villiers: (8/10)
The Proteas has stepped up whenever his team needed the most. AB de Villers scored crucial 69 runs from 39 balls to guide his team to a massive score. His form will be crucial going into the business end of the tournament.
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Mandeep Singh: (2/10)
The middle-order batsman had a mediocre tournament so far. However, he failed to get going in this game as well. Mandeep Singh got out cheaply for four runs. Meanwhile, he will have to continue his job with the bat for Bangalore.
Sarfaraz Khan: (7/10)
After having a dull tournament so far, Sarfaraz Khan came to his usual self against the Sunrisers. His late cameo of 22 runs from eight balls helped RCB post 218 runs on the board.
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His return to form will be very crucial to RCB’s success in the last league game.
Colin de Grandhomme: (7.5/10)
The New Zealand all-rounder fully capitalise the platform set by the top-order batsmen. He hammered 40 runs off 17 balls, as Bangalore crossed the 200-run mark. However, he will have to be economical with the ball in the next fixture.
Tim Southee: (4/10)
Southee had a poor outing in the high scoring encounter. He conceded 45 runs from his four overs and will like to improve his performance in the last league fixture. However, he is capable of changing the course of game single-handedly, and RCB camp will want a superlative performance from him.
Umesh Yadav: (5.5/10)
Although Umesh Yadav failed to take his name to the wicket column, he was economical. He gave away 31 runs in his full quota of four overs.
However, he will have to pick wickets with the new ball and provide RCB with early breakthroughs.
Mohammed Siraj: (6/10)
The young Mohammad Siraj bowled a brilliant last over to seal the game in Bangalore’s favour. Defending 20 runs in the 20th, he gave away only five runs, as the Royal Challengers won the match by 14 runs.
Overall, he needs to improve his statistics, as he gave away 43 runs from his four overs.
Yuzvendra Chahal: (7/10)
Chahal has started to show his true colours in the dying moments of the tournament. He bowled tight line and length, as he contained a highly talented batting-order.
Chahal returned with one for 28 and will look to continue his form going.
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