IPL 9, Match 4 Review: SRH tamed by a majestic RCB

The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) kick-started their campaign with a thumping 45-run win over the Sun Risers Hyderabad (SRH) playing at their home ground in Bengaluru. Being asked to bat first AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli smashed half centuries each that virtually put the game out of Sunrisers reach. RCB continued their trend of producing stunning performances in the earlier stages of the tournament and their fans would be hoping that they would continue to perform this way in the important later stages too.

David Warner won the toss and opted to field first. Mustafizur Rahman, the promising youngster from Bangladesh was picked ahead of his more experienced peer member, Trent Boult. But in the end, it turned out Warner’s decision was spot on as he was the only bowler who offered some consolation to the SRH team who were severely bruised by the destructive batting of the RCB batters.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, as always was effective in the opening overs, he yet again proved his prowess by removing the danger man Chris Gayle early, thus preventing any chances of a Gayle storm. After the Jamaican’s departure, AB de Villiers and Kohli the dream batting duo steadied the ship, with de Villiers clobbering the big hits and Kohli ticked around for runs and batted sensibly. Once he got in and the feel of the wicket the skipper too joined the party and was playing with effortless ease until Kumar in his second spell dismissed him for (58 off 25 balls) with a stunning Yorker that uprooted his leg stump.

Their most expensive pick Shane Watson came to the crease, and completely ruined Karan Sharma’s bowling figures, thwacking the leggie for three consecutive sixes. Soon, he and AB de Villiers (82 off 42 balls) got out in quick succession, and the projected score went down. But teenager Sarfaraz Khan had other ideas, he played a blinder of a knock smashing 35 off 10 balls, to make sure the team posted a daunting 227/4 in their 20 overs.

Chasing 227 is never easy and is something never achieved in the history of the league, but as they say, nothing is impossible in T20 cricket and give the size and character of the Chinnaswamy stadium RCB wouldn’t have been complacent coming in to bowl. SRH skipper David Warner looked unnerved despite the huge target and smashed Adam Milne for a six and a four in his 2nd over, despite the fact that Mine bowled good lines at some serious pace above 145 kmph the ball raced to the boundary at double the speed. Just when Warner was looking fearsome, Dhawan spoiled the momentum continuing his poor run from the World T20, getting out on Parvez Rasool’s very first delivery. Warner though remained unflustered and did what he always does, continued to bat unaffected.

But his fellow Aussie from RCB, Watson got the better of him with a bouncer which Warner top edged straight to the hands of Milne at the mid-wicket. The home crowd sensed victory for their side and no other batsman who followed had the firepower nor the application to take their team through.

Naman Ojha got out for a duck, and Moises Henriques who never looked in good touch right form the start got out after a sluggish 19 off 22 balls to the leg-spin of Chahal.

Things looked hopeless for the Sunrisers and even Ashish Reddy’s cameo (32 off 18) didn’t help as the required rate was mountain high by then. Eventually, it was clearly a lost battle and though Eoin Morgan and Karan Sharma hit a few big shots all they managed to do was reduce the margin of defeat.

Brief Scores:

RCB – 227/4 in 20 overs (AB de Villiers 82 V Kohli 75; M Rahman 2/26)

SRH – 182/6 in 20 overs (David Warner 58; S Watson 2/30)

Man of the Match: AB de Villiers

What were the talking points of the game? – IPL 9, Match 4 Review: SRH tamed by a majestic RCB