Kane Williamson, POTM: It's been a tough season and it's great to see some of those small improvements. To see those small adjustments was good, we thought that total was competitive and we saw that fight throughout the ball as well. I was just trying to maximize the powerplay and the ball was holding on the surface and we were fortunate to build a partnership and we knew things wouldn't happen quickly from a bowling perspective, but we knew if we held our nerve and stay there for longer periods, we can build that pressure. Game was getting tight and dismissing him one way or the other was the key, they are a fantastic side and even though we are not in the contention it was great to see the fight. He certainly is special. We saw him in the nets in the last couple of seasons and he is a real competitor and is proving to be effective even on slower surfaces. He's got a lot of mates in the team as well and that helps in sharing the knowledge. It's a great opportunity for the younger guys to get involved and hopefully we will keep learning and we go again on Friday. Lot of last over finishes and we keep trying and applying ourselves and the surfaces haven't allowed for a rhythm and it's good to see the win.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar: The hand is fine. I got hit thrice after I dropped a catch as well. When AB bats, I was thinking on the process. I was trying to bowl wide yorkers. I bowled a yorker at the stumps and got hit for a six and then again went back to wide yorkers. If you look at the score at three venues it hasn't been much. We did think we were 10-15 short though.
Virat Kohli: The intent should always be to get it done as soon as possible. We don't want to stretch things too deep. Dev and Maxi set things up but Maxi's run out was the key moment for us. With AB you're never out of the game, but it's also a case of keeping the guy in the flow on strike. Shahbaz I think played a crucial knock at the stage and pulled us back into the game. It's a game of small margins. Things could have gone anywhere and Sunrisers held their nerves to not allow us to get away. Chahal's bowling pretty well now. Looks like he's worked on his bowling with all the time off. Him bowling well is a good sign for the team. [Umran Malik] good to see a guy bowling at 150 clicks. It's important to understand the progress of individuals from here, how to look after yourself. We've got to maximise the potential of our fast bowling stocks.
Vintage SRH, is it? A rare win for the season but this was exactly the template the Orange Army was known here. Defend the low scores and keep some of the best batters in their tracks. Kane Williamson rolled in the perfect bowling changes throughout the over and perhaps Devdutt Padikkal's sluggish innings from an end improved their chances. While Padikkal aimed to remain second-fiddle, wickets kept tumbling at the other end. Eventually, a fine knock from Maxwell and cameos from ABD and Shahbaz weren't enough for Kohli's men.
RCB 137/6 in 20 overs: Garton misses the first ball as Bhuvi rolls in the slower one. He connects the next ball to the deep on the off-side and finds the single. 12 needed of 4, ABD on strike. Low full-toss outside off and AB whacks it to deep cover but doesn't run! 12 off 3! ABD smokes a straight six, wow! Right in the arc, ABD sets in the crease and fires it straight over the umpire for a biggie. 6 off 2 and ABD slams it straight to cover, no run.! 6 off 1 and ABD fails to finish. Low full-toss again from Bhuvi and de Villiers fails to clear the extra cover boundary. What a defense this has been from SRH! They win by 4 runs!
RCB needs 13 in one over! Bhuvi up for it.
RCB 129/6 in 19 overs: Holder to Shahbaz. OUT! Shahbaz' fine cameo comes to an end. Bhuvi drops him early in the over before he slams another shot to deep midwicket for two more runs. Holder eventually rolls in the slower one to err Ahmed's timing. He parries the ball straight to Williamson at short midwicket. Garton nearly chips one to Williamson next ball! Similar delivery from Holder and Garton pulls it inches away from Williamson for a single. ABD, for the last ball. Top stuff from Holder as he drills the ball right in the blockhole and denies ABD a single. Shahbaz Ahmed c Williamson b Holder 14 (9b 2x4)
Holder for the 19th
RCB 124/5 in 18 overs: Two vital boundaries from the over and it comes of Ahmed's blade! Umran bowls a slower-bouncer and Ahmed heaves it to the mid-wicket fence. Umran finishes with a lower full-toss outside off and Shahbaz slices it over point for another boundary. RCB needs 18 in 12 balls.
Umran for his final over
RCB 113/5 in 17 overs: Rashid to Padikkal. OUT! Fine catch from Samad at the deep! The misery is over for Padikkal. He gets hold of the pull this time only to find a Samad running from mid-wicket towards square to complete a fine catch. Could this be the twist in the game? Hold on says ABD as he reverse-sweeps the next ball to the boundary for four!
Rashid continues
RCB 104/4 in 16 overs: Kaul bowls out with a fine over. Just the six coming from it as ABD and Padikkal resort to singles to keep the board ticking. RCB needs 38 in 24 balls.
RCB needs 44 in 30 balls! Kaul returns
RCB 98/4 in 15 overs: Rashid to Padikkal. OUT! Maxwell's run out at the striker's end after a direct hit from Williamson! Rashid forces Padikkal to go deep in the crease and push to off. He aims to sneak in a quick run as he tucks it to cover. Williamson steams in and picks up the ball in a flash and darts in a fine throw to find Maxwell short. What a moment in the chase. ABD in at 5. He begins with a proactive sweep to the deep for a single before Padikkal reverse-sweeps Rashid behind point for four. Glenn Maxwell run out (Williamson) 40 (25b 3x4 2x6)
RCB 92/3 in 14 overs: Bhuvi does well to follow Maxwell's bat, cramping him for room to launch that big blade. Just the six runs in the over. Maxwell and Padikkal are aiming to take this one deep. RCB needs 50 in 30 balls.
Bhuvi replaces Kaul
RCB 86/3 in 13 overs: Holder strays to the pads and Maxwell's inside-edge takes it fine down leg for four. Padikkal continues to struggle and fails to get his timing right. He keeps his guard down is doing well to give a chunk of the strike to Maxi. RCB needs 56 in 36 balls.
Holder is back
RCB 77/3 in 12 overs: Maxwell continues to impose himself on the bowlers. He walks into Kaul's length delivery and clobbers it to midwicket for four. Kaul keeps it fairly stready after that and gives away only two runs. RCB needs 65 from 48 balls.
Kaul into the attack
RCB 71/3 in 11 overs: Excellent from Umran! He rushes Maxwell with a well-pointed bouncer onto the shoulders. Maxwell has no clue about that one and ends up top-edging it to short-leg. No fielders in the region and he escapes. But, this is some start for young Umran coming in as a replacement into this side.
RCB 67/3 in 10 overs: Brilliant from Maxi! Rashid is unsettled as Maxwell aces the slog sweep once again for six. He follows up with another tonk to the mid-wicket boundary for four and follows up with some lightning running between the wicket to find four more runs in the over.
RCB 52/3 in 9 overs: Into the 150s is Umran! He goes as high as 153 and does it with ease. Maxwell and Padikkal are up against some serious heat and they wade out of it by exchanging strike frequently through singles. Geez, what an over!
153.5kmph - the fastest ever by an Indian in IPL history!
RCB 47/3 in 8 overs: Big show starts in trademark style. Rashid's shorter delivery is whipped away from the crease with some muscle. Maxwell continues with a wristy slog sweep and finds another boundary through cow-corner.
Rashid Khan replaces Kaul
RCB 38/3 in 7 overs: Malik to Bharat! OUT! Slides it straight to Saha! A needless shot here from Bharat. Umran rocks in a quick bouncer which slides down leg for a possible wide. Bharat goes for a rash pull and ends up nudging the ball. Saha has a easy grab and the young Kashmiri lad has his first wicket in the IPL! Srikar Bharat c †Saha b Umran Malik 12 (10b 1x4 1x6)
Umran Malik into the attack. Time for some serious heat now.
RCB 37/2 in 6 overs:
Kaul mixes up his pace to keep Padikkal deep in the crease. He does well to sneak in a single.
Bharat smokes Kaul with two stunning boundaries. Kaul rolls in the slower-one once again and Bharat picks it early this time. A languid chip over long-on and it sails all the way for six. Kaul fends short and Bharat swivels gracefully to slam the ball behind mid-wicket for four.
RCB 25/2 in 5 overs: Holder strays to the pads and it keeps low. Padikkal manages the low bounce pretty well as he flicks it behind square for a fine boundary.
RCB 18/2 in 4 overs: Kaul to Christian. OUT! The slower-one does the trick again! Kaul gently rolls it in and Christian makes no sense of it. The ball hits the blade and lobs up straight to Williamson at mid-off. The Christian experiment at no.3 falls flat once again.
Top start for Kaul as he sets a wicket-maiden!
Dan Christian c Williamson b Kaul 1 (4b)
Kaul into the attack
RCB 18/1 in 3 overs: Christian aims to clear his way and goes for a rough tonk and ends up slicing it nearly on the full to third. Padikkal crunches Bhuvi with a beautiful four. Measured drive while leaning towards the bal and it races past the mid-off fielder to the fence.
RCB 13/1 in 2 overs: Padikkal slashes Holder's wide delivery over point for four. A slower-ball then prompts a huge slog from the leftie over mid-on and just gets enough air on it to fall over the fielders. SRH loses a review after Holder slides one down leg, close to Padikkal's bat and sets out on a huge appeal. Replays suggest Padikkal has got no poke on it and he survives.
RCB 6/1 in 1 over: Bhuvi to Kohli. OUT! Traps him with a sharp in-swinger! Kohli is stunned by that delivery. This is a beauty from Bhuvi after a poor start. Perfect length and line and Kohli attempts to rush it through the on-side. He misses it altogether and Padikkal suggests Kohli that he's hit flush on the line. Kohli walks back dejected, fine start for SRH! Virat Kohli lbw b Kumar 5 (4b 1x4)
Bhuvneshwar up with the new ball.
Back for the chase! Kohli and Padikkal at the middle for RCB.
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Kohli's plans have fallen into place once again. After finding its first breakthrough in the Powerplay in the second leg, RCB had a slight concern as Wiliamson and Roy set-up a fine partnership. But the wickets began to fall at regular intervals towards the second-half as Kohli's spinners Shahbaz and Chahal and Harshal Patel dried up the boundaries. The pressure crippled the batters and Kohli's bowlers soon made merry with a heap of wickets. In its aspirations for a top-two finish, will RCB go into the attack mode from ball one? Let's wait to find out!
SRH 141/7 in 20 overs: Three for Harshal and Hyderabad has another disappointing finish. Slower one rolled in again and Holder lifts it straight up to the sky. Christian has an easy grab at long-on and Bangalore has made a resounding comeback into this one. Jason Holder c Christian b Patel 16 (13b 2x4)
SRH 136/6 in 19 overs: Top finish from Siraj as he hits the blockhole for all but one delivery. Rashid plays a late upper-cut off the short ball and finds the deep point boundary.
Siraj for the 19th
SRH 130/6 in 18 overs: Harshal to Saha. OUT! Straight up in the air and Saha's a goner! The slower-ball does the damage once again as Saha completely misreads it. The ball simply shoots up and straight to de Villiers at long-on. He nearly gets another with the off-cutter as Holder clips one off the inside-edge behind the keeper for four. Wriddhiman Saha c de Villiers b Patel 10 (8b 1x4)
Harshal Patel is back
SRH 120/5 in 17 overs: Christian angles the ball into the pads and Holder tucks it behind short fine for four. Another decent over for RCB as SRH manage only seven from it.
And all of a sudden, we have Saha and Holder at the crease.
SRH 113/5 in 16 overs: Chahal to Samad. OUT! Excellent review from RCB! Kohli trusts his gut seconds away from the timer and goes up for it as Chahal's sliding leg-break beats Samad's rash heave to hit the pads. The ball seemed to have gone down leg, but surprise, surprise, it's clipping the leg-stump! Samad's on his way and SRH is facing another quick slide down the barrel. Abdul Samad lbw b Chahal 1 (3b)
SRH 107/4 in 15 overs: Christian to Garg. OUT! Holes out to deep mid-wicket! Christian fends short and Garg slams it to the deep off his waist but not enough. The ball hits high on the bat and it only goes as far as to meet de Villiers' palms in the deep. Samad's the new man. He cuts to the deep and gets off the mark with a single. Christian pushes one in straight and Roy slams it straight back and Christian holds onto a stunner! Two in the over for the wily Aussie! Jason Roy c & b Christian 44 (38b 5x4); Priyam Garg c de Villiers b Christian 15 (11b 1x6)
SRH 105/2 in 14 overs: 100 up for SRH! Garg ensures it comes in style as he tonks Chahal over long-on for a six. Roy then attempts a reverse-sweep and the ball ends up lobbing straight to Bharat behind the wicket. Chahal appeals and it's given! Roy instantly goes up for a review. He survives as the replays suggest that the ball is well away from his blade and glove.
SRH 96/2 in 13 overs: Christian mixes up his pace. Garg and Roy keep their anchors down and tread in singles. Kohli quickly signals for Chahal to return at the end of the over.
Dan Christian into the attack
SRH 91/2 in 12 overs: Harshal to Williamson. OUT! Foxes him with the off-cutter! Just about the perfect delivery to dislodge Kane. Harshal rolls his fingers over the ball off the last moment and hits the shorter length. The ball slides in to clip the inside-edge of Williamson's blade and scurries to the stumps. There's the breakthrough RCB wanted and it's that man again.
No. 27 of the season for Harshal!
Kane Williamson b Patel 31 (29b 4x4)
Harshal Patel is back
SRH 81/1 in 11 overs: This is risk-free batting from the pair. Shahbaz offer no room and the batters continue to gently work the field to find singles. Pretty much content to see off the phase without giving away a wicket.
SRH 76/1 in 10 overs: Chahal begins with a leg-break and Roy places it to the boundary with absolute perfection. The ball skips away from him and he fiercely cuts it between backward point and short third for four. Williamson and Roy continue to nudge about the field and keep the singles reeling in.
SRH 65/1 in 9 overs: Fifty partnership for Williamson and Roy! RCB's frustrations hits its peak. Roy escapes thrice in the over! Shahbaz floats one in and Roy goes for a sweep. The top-edge lobs over to a vacant mid-on region and Kohli can only smile. Williamson then sneaks in a quick single and Roy just about makes it to the other end. He attempts another big heave and ends up slicing it inches away from short third.
SRH 61/1 in 8 overs: Minimal turn for Yuzi to start. Williamson paddles behind short find and picks up two runs. Chahal keeps the batters in their tracks and gives away just three runs.
Yuzi Chahal is up
SRH 58/1 in 7 overs: Roy cuts to deep point and finds two runs to start. Harshal follows up with a short and it's whipped in style by Roy to the mid-wicket fence for four. Harshal cuts down on pace and keeps Roy in his tracks to complete the over.
Harshal Patel into the attack
SRH 50/1 in 6 overs: Fifty up in the Powerplay for SRH! Shahbaz fends short and Roy quickly shifts in the crease and sweeps it with precision to the boundary. Fine little phase for SRH.
SRH 43/1 in 5 overs: Garton starts with a full-toss and Roy tucks it past mid-off for four. He exchanges strike with a single. Gorgeous from Kane! Garton pushes the ball away from Williamson and he pounces on it in a flash. Another cover drive for four. Williamson's playing with the field now. He works the ball straying to the stumps behind short fine for another boundary.
Garton from the other end
SRH 26/1 in 4 overs: Shahbaz denies room to the batters. Williamson and Roy tread in singles and just four runs come off it. Excellent from the left-armer in the Powerplay.
Shahbaz replaces Garton
SRH 23/1 in 3 overs: Siraj starts off with a couple of nip-backers to Williamson, pinning him back in the crease. A hint of width and Williamson cashes in with a fine cover drive for four.
A beauty to finish! Siraj dishes in the bouncer and Williamson swivels and pulls it to the mid-wicket boundary off the back-foot with ease!
SRH 14/1 in 2 overs: Garton to Abhishek. OUT! Straight up in the air off a bottom-edge.
Abhishek continues to persist with attack and fails to read into the slower one. Garton cuts down on pace as he slides it in and Abhishek's flick lobs straight to Maxwell at mid-on.
Abhishek Sharma c Maxwell b Garton 13 (10b 1x4 1x6)
Garton from the opposite end
SRH 3/0 in 1 over: Roy gets off the mark with a single. Siraj shapes the new ball away from the left-handed Abhishek. Abhishek attempts a couple of gentle drives but the off-side chain blocks a boundary.
We are all set. Jason Roy and Abhishek Sharma to open. Siraj with the new ball. Roy to take strike.
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RCB XI: Virat Kohli (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Srikar Bharat (wk), Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Daniel Christian, Shahbaz Ahmed, George Garton, Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj
SRH XI: Jason Roy, W Saha (wk), Kane Williamson (c), Priyam Garg, Abhishek Sharma, Abdul Samad, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, S Kaul, Umran Malik
Toss Time in Abu Dhabi!
6:45PM IST: PITCH REPORT with Nick Knight: "The overhead conditions are superb - this is the driest pitch we have had so far, there are some cracks developing, we have had hot weather and dry winds, so this might help cutters and spinners a bit more. Variations are the key, you'll get more grip off the surface."
6:30PM IST: Three successive fifties. Can Maxi sustain his scorching form on the way to the Playoffs?
6:00PM IST: Numbers Game
MATCH PREVIEW
Royal Challengers Bangalore will have an eye on a top-two finish when it takes on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
Wins in the remaining two games – the second against table-topper Delhi Capitals – will take the Virat Kohli-led side to 20 points, and if Chennai Super Kings loses to Punjab Kings in its last game, second place, and with that two chances to qualify for the final, can be RCB’s.
On current form, RCB can fancy its chances. It has won three matches on the bounce with contributions from nearly every member of the playing XI. Of these, Glenn Maxwell with three consecutive half-centuries, Harshal Patel with 26 wickets and Yuzvendra Chahal with 14 wickets have shone the brightest.
However, one facet RCB can look to improve is the scoring rate immediately after PowerPlay. Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal, excellent otherwise, have tended to slow down in the middle overs. Runs at a brisk pace can bring greater rewards.
Mohammed Siraj has claimed just one wicket from five matches in the UAE leg, but the bowling unit as a whole has held strong.
For SRH, already out of the tournament, there is little to play for. Green shoots ahead of the next season are all that Kane Williamson will be looking for.
There is hope in Umran Malik, who was brought in as a short-term replacement for T. Natarajan. The 21-year-old Jammu & Kashmir cricketer’s searing pace against Kolkata Knight Riders forced everyone to sit up and take notice. The next few matches will be revealing.
Where to watch today's match?
The IPL 2021 match between RCB and SRH will be aired live on Star Sports channels - Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 3 and Star Sports 3 HD at 7:30pm. The online streaming will be available on Hotstar.
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