IPL 2018: Match 51, RCB vs SRH- Rating of the Match

The match had no significance as far as the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are concerned. Bearing that in mind, it was a tad bewildering that they opted for only one change against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Basil Thampi was roped in for Bhuvneshwar Kumar and the decision seemed like a precautionary measure to keep Bhuvi rested and fresh for the playoffs. However, the move bombed as Thampi was bashed into ignominy for 70 runs.

The pacer’s bowling figures would be enough to portray the attribute of the pitch at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. Calling the track at the venue was a batsman’s paradise and a bowler’s graveyard would be an understatement. It was only the guile of Rashid Khan that stood out as he was able to demystify the questions hurled at him by the unresponsive pitch.

Rashid- The silver lining

The spinner from Afghanistan wasn’t unplayable, he wasn’t supposed to be, on a pitch which offered less than peanuts to the bowlers. However, he remained unflustered by the carnage unfolded by the batters. Virat Kohli’s susceptibility against the Afghan tweakers continued as Rashid Khan rattled his woodwork. The RCB captain will want to erase the memories of the ungainly stroke.

Rashid would‘ve been happy for the reason that he couldn’t snare RCB’s bearded beast last time round in Hyderabad as Williamson dropped him. Meanwhile, he became the second Afghan bowler after Mujeeb Ur Rahman to dismiss Kohli.

The Royal Challengers managed to smother Rashid thereafter for the next couple of overs, the batsmen’s inclination to smack everything led to the fall of two set players in the same over. Rashid induced a false stroke from de Villiers and the ball traced into Shikhar Dhawan’s hands at the deep square leg. Dhawan made amends for the grassed chance at long-off in the tenth over.

In the next-to-next ball, Moeen attempted a cheeky reverse paddle, which was nothing, but a mini brain explosion. Shreevats Goswami dished out a jugglery act but eventually latched on the leather in the second over. More than Rashid’s attributes, it was their approach, which resulted in those wickets. Meanwhile, yet another time, Rashid panned out to be SRH’s standout bowler.

Graceful Williamson

During Sunrisers’ run-chase, the openers in Alex Hales and Shikhar Dhawan went at a run-rate of 9.40, but it wasn’t at par as far as overhauling RCB’s score was concerned. Kane Williamson took charge and by the eighth over, SRH lost Hales as well. Moreover, the skipper had a partner at the other end in Manish Pandey who has had an abysmal season before today.

Williamson didn’t play a shot of anger and yet scored at a strike-rate of 192.85. Most importantly, he guided Manish at the other end who stumbled in the early part of his innings. The Black Cap didn’t panic and took it upon himself and pulled them single-handedly with his knock. He isn’t intimidating, but his shots were definitely venomous and they kept RCB on the hunt.

His sheer presence was enough to keep a check on the bowlers. Even in the last over when the Orange Army required 20 runs off the last over, the odds were against Virat’s boys. Mohammed Siraj won them the match as the Kiwi batsman perished in the opening delivery. SRH only managed five runs in the last five balls of the run-fest.

Rating of the Match- 5