IPL 9 Match 27 Review: Warner, Williamson ensure an easy win for SRH

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) solidified their position in the points table after they registered a comprehensive 15 run victory over Royal Challenger Bangalore (RCB) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad.

RCB skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to chase on a damp evening. Rains had played spoilsport at the start of the match. The game had to be delayed by 50 minutes due to wet outfield. Luckily there was no interruption thereafter during the game.

SRH did not have a great start after they lost Shikhar Dhawan cheaply. The left hander, who played sensible knocks in the past couple of games failed to make it count today. But, after the initial setback, the SRH innings took off as skipper David Warner and comeback man Kane Williamson forged a match-defining partnership of 124 runs off just 12.1 overs for the 2 wicket.

Warner continued his great form with the bat and dominated the stand with his usual aggressive batting. Unfortunately, the left hander missed out on his century after Tabraiz Shamsi snapped his wicket in the 16th over of match. Williamson, who returned after an injury lay-off, also looked fluent with his stroke-making and notched his half-century but unfortunately could not carry one after Warner’s departure. The right hander was dismissed by Shane Watson in the 17th over.

Moises Henriques (31 from 14 balls) then took charge and played a wonderful cameo to propel SRH to 194/5 at the end of 20 overs.

With a daunting task of 195 runs to chase, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul began on a very positive note. RCB were cruising their way in the powerplay before Warner introduced Mustafizur to bowl the 6th over. The wily left arm pacer required only two balls to make an impact as he snapped Kohli to break to break the opening partnership.

But, the skipper’s departure did not hamper the cause. Rahul looked in a different mood overall and was playing out of his skin. He along with the masterful AB de Villiers maintained the required run rate. Unfortunately, Rahul, who was imperiously clobbering the ball, was dismissed by Moises Henrique off the last ball in the 10th over.

This was the moment SRH began to claw back into the game. With 112 required off 60 balls, the pressure on the RCB was clearly visible. Barinder Sran created a chance off the first ball in the 11th over when AB de Villiers crunched a return catch to him. But, the bowler failed to hold catch and was left with a stinging blow on his hand.

Henriques, however, was enjoying his day with ball as he struck in his following over with wicket of the dangerous Shane Watson. But, despite losing two quick wickets, de Villiers looked unfazed and continued hammering the bowlers to keep RCB in contention of the game.

But, RCB’s hopes of winning the game received a huge jolt after Sran made up for the earlier missed chance by dismissing De Villiers in the 15th over. Williamson, standing at the long-off, faced no problem in cupping a simple catch to make the danger man depart.

Sachin Baby (27 from 16 balls) kept the flickering hopes alive. The chants of the familiar Sachin… Sachin… intensified as the ‘other Sachin showed great enthusiasm while batting. But, his efforts were eventually not enough as RCB were bundled out for 179/6 after 6 wickets.

Brief Scores:

Sunrisers Hyderabad: 194/5 in 20 overs (David Warner 92; Kane Richardson 2/45)

Royal Challengers Bangalore: 179/6 in 20 overs (KL Rahul 51; Ashish Nehra 1/32)

Man of the Match: David Warner