srh vs rcb

srh vs rcb

Sunrisers Hyderabad halt RCB's top-two attack in high-scoring thriller in Lucknow

Lucknow, India - In a high-octane encounter at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) put up a brilliant performance to defeat Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 42 runs. SRH's unassailable win, which was a mere footnote in their own season, turned out to be a seismic shift in RCB's carefully planned plan for the top-two play-offs.

SRH's batting blitz: Kishan's masterclass and explosive start

Elected to bat first after winning the toss, SRH set a mammoth target of 231/6, helped by Ishan Kishan's brilliant unbeaten 94 off just 48 balls. Sunrisers got off to a great start, with opener Abhishek Sharma (34 off 17 balls) and the returning Travis Head (17 off 10 balls) helping the RCB bowlers reach 50 off just 22 balls.

Despite early success with the dismissal of both openers Lungi Ngidi and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishan Kishan continued the attack. He was well supported by Heinrich Klaasen (24 off 13 balls) and Aniket Verma (26 off 9 balls), who played important cameos to maintain the scoring rate. Kishan's innings was a remarkable piece of controlled aggression, as he smashed the RCB bowling attack with seven fours and five sixes, narrowly missing out on his second century of the season. The SRH middle order ensured that the momentum never faltered, eventually producing a magnificent total that put RCB under immense pressure.

RCB's spirited chase fades under pressure

Chasing 232, Royal Challengers Bangalore started with a natural attitude, with Virat Kohli (43 off 25 balls) and Phil Salt (62 off 32 balls) giving a fiery start. The brilliant Virat Kohli lit the fuse by striking close to 200 and, after recovering from his injury, Phil Salt lit it further, maintaining the attacking pressure after Kohli's lightning-fast delivery. At one stage, RCB looked well on track, managing the required run-rate effectively and reaching 116/1 in just 9.4 overs.

However, the script turned with a sudden and devastating change of pace in the latter half of their innings. RCB's collapse was triggered by the run-out of skipper Jitesh Sharma (24 off 15 balls) by Ishan Malinga, leading to a quick loss of wickets. Despite Rajat Patidar (18 off 16 balls) and Tim David (1 off 5 balls) battling injuries, the constant fall of wickets prevented them from maintaining the required scoring rate. While with the ball, Pat Cummins became the epitome of SRH's leadership, taking three crucial wickets for 28 runs, notably the dismissal of Phil Salt.

Ishan Malinga (2/37) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1/13) achieved crucial breakthroughs, as RCB were all out for 189 in 19.5 overs and trailed by 42 runs.

Impact players and key moments

The match saw some interesting tactical decisions with the impact player rule. In a tactical twist, Rajat Patidar, who was initially supposed to lead RCB, was deployed as an impact player, with Jitesh Sharma handed the captaincy. For SRH, the return of Travis Head after testing negative for COVID-19 was a significant improvement and Harsh Dubey was used as an impact player.

The turning point for RCB probably came after the 14th over, when a flurry of wickets and SRH's disciplined bowling prevented them from chasing. Pat Cummins' sharp spell in the middle overs, which included the dismissal of Krunal Pandya by hit-wicket, also proved crucial. Ashan Malinga's slow delivery and sharp variation also played a key role in stemming the run flow and taking crucial wickets in the death overs.

Head-to-head and play-off implications

The win was SRH's 13th win against RCB in 25 IPL matches, with RCB finishing with 11 wins and one match without a result. While SRH's season ended on a strong note, their exit from the playoffs was already confirmed even before this match.

For Royal Challengers Bangalore, the defeat is a significant setback to their quest for a top-two spot. Having already qualified for the playoffs with 17 points, they are now third behind Gujarat Titans (18 points) and Punjab Kings (17 points, with an improved net run rate). The defeat means that RCB's fate for the top-two spot is no longer entirely in their hands and will depend on the outcome of other upcoming matches. Being in the top two provides a significant advantage in the playoffs, which gives them two chances to reach the final. RCB will now have to address their bowling concerns, particularly the absence of Josh Hazlewood, as they prepare for their last league match and the upcoming playoffs.

Looking ahead

While SRH are confident from this comprehensive win, their focus now shifts to preparing for next season. For RCB, the path to the final has become tougher, but their qualification for the playoffs still gives them a chance to fight for the coveted IPL trophy. The upcoming matches will be crucial in determining the final standings and the play-off matchups.