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IPL 2018: Virat Kohli minces no words as RCB lose against SRH in Hyderabad

After being bowled out for 146, SRH proved yet again it has the best bowling unit in this IPL by restricting Bangalore to 141-6.

Hyderabad: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) successfully defended a low score for the fourth time in the Indian Premier League and defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by five runs on Monday.

After being bowled out for 146, SRH proved yet again it has the best bowling unit in this IPL by restricting Bangalore to 141-6.

Needing 19 off the last two overs, seamers Sidharth Kaul (1-25) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1-27) didn't concede a boundary by bowling yorker-length deliveries.

Colin de Grandhomme (33) and Mandeep Singh (21) gave RCB a glimmer of hope with their 57-run sixth wicket stand. But with six required off the last ball, Grandhomme was clean-bowled by Kumar.

"Bhuvi and Sid Kaul have done it for a long period of time, did very well last year, doing well this year," SRH captain Kane Williamson said.

"Hope we can continue to back them at the death. It's just about trying to adapt to the surfaces at a number of venues."

SRH widened its lead at the top of the table with eight victories in 10 matches.

RCB, with only three wins so far, has only an outside chance of qualifying for the playoffs.

Experienced spinners Shakib Al Hasan (2-36) and Rashid Khan (1-31) earlier strangled RCB's run chase when they removed star hitters captain Virat Kohli (39) and AB de Villiers (5) in successive overs.

Kohli, dropped on 33 at first slip by Williamson, tried to pull the left-arm spin of Shakib and got the leading edge. De Villiers misread Rashid's googly and chopped on to his stumps as RCB slipped to 80-4 in the 11th over.

Moeen Ali, making his IPL debut, followed in the next over when Kaul had the left-hander caught behind. Kumar returned and choked Bangalore's chase in the end.

Earlier, after being sent in to bat, Williamson (56) anchored SRH's innings with his fifth half-century of the campaign.

But SRH's middle order faltered yet again once Williamson attempted an ambitious shot at Umesh Yadav and holed out at fine leg in the 16th over and the total on 112.

Fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj (3-25) and Tim Southee (3-30) benefited as SRH lost five wickets in the last two overs, including two run outs in the 20th over.

“It was a (tough loss) but that is how the game goes. We deserve to lose this game. We were not good enough on the day. 60-odd runs in the first six overs and then we ended up like that. I don't think we showed enough application. The kind of shots we played, they were not on at that stage. I think we threw it away. I think we let the opposition get back in the game. That has been the story of the season so far,” said Kohli during his post-match interview.

“The fielding was up to the mark but I think 10-15 runs less would have been ideal for us. This was a tough wicket (to bat). We should have done a better job with the ball but in the field we were up to the mark,” added the RCB skipper.

SRH, in this season, had defended the scores of 118 (vs Mumbai Indians), 132 (vs Kings XI Punjab) and 151 (vs Rajasthan Royals) before emerging triumphant, defending 146 against RCB on Monday. Kohli also stated that SRH have the strongest bowling unit in IPL 2018.

“If you have strong characters in the team you can always do well in such a tournament. Sunrisers have quite a few guys in the team - that has been the story of their season. They understand their team and that's why they have been so successful. They understand their strengths, know their limitations. That's been their story and this has been ours. As an all-round team Chennai and Punjab are good. As a bowling team, Sunrisers are the strongest team,” concluded Kohli.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle with agency inputs )
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