IPL 2023: Virat Kohli century helps RCB thrash SRH.
Virat Kohli
came to the rescue with a brilliant century in a must win match against
Sunrisers Hyderabad played at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on
18 May 2023.
RCB captain
Faf du Plessis won the toss and decided to field first. It was a disciplined start
as Mohammed Siraj and Wayne Parnell did not allow Abhishek Sharma and Rahul
Tripathi score runs easily initially. Sharma and Tripathi showed some intent
against Parnell in his 2nd over keeping the pressure on RCB bowlers.
Michael Bracewell
was bought into the attack and got two wickets in the same over dismissing
Sharma with a simple catch to Lomror and then Rahul Tripathi at short fine leg.
Heinrich Klassen came to the crease and looked in fine touch putting pressure
on RCB bowlers. At the end of first six overs, SRH scored 49 for 2.
After the
field restrictions, Klassen looked in sublime touch hitting boundaries at
regular intervals and kept SRH momentum going. On other hand, Markram kept the
strike rotating and gave strike to Klassen. At the end of first timeout, SRH 76
for 2.
Klassen
made the batting look easy completing fifty off just 24 deliveries and kept
momentum going for SRH. Karn Sharma got much needed breakthrough dismissing
Markram trying to hit reverse but was bowled. Klassen and Markram added 76 runs
for the 3rd wicket.
Klassen continued
his attacking shots and kept the scoreboard ticking along with Harry Brook
making a comeback into the playing XI. SRH ended 2nd timeout at 140
for 3.
Klassen and
Brook took charge against Shahbaz Ahmed to show their class making life tough
for RCB bowlers. Klassen completed his maiden IPL century off 49 deliveries.
Harshal Patel produced lovely slower delivery to dismiss Klassen. Klassen and
Brook added 74 runs for the 4th wicket. Mohammed Siraj bowled a
superb final over giving away just 4 and taking wicket of Glenn Phillips off
final delivery. At the end of 20 overs, SRH posted 186 for 4 in 20 overs.
Chasing 187
runs to win, Virat Kohli looked in sublime form with 2 cracking boundaries in
the first over against Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Kohli took the charge putting enough
pressure on SRH bowlers. Faf was given a reprieve as Glenn Phillips dropped a
simple chance. After the dropped chance, Kohli and Faf kept pressure on the inexperience
SRH bowling. At the end of first six overs, RCB openers raced away to 64 for 0.
With that, the first timeout was called out.
Kohli and du
Plessis kept the pressure on SRH bowling taking singles and hitting boundaries
at regular intervals. Du Plessis was brilliantly caught by Mayank Dagar but it
was a no-ball due to second bouncer. Du Plessis completed half-century off 34
deliveries while Kohli reached half-century off 35 balls.
Kohli
played some lovely shots and made life tough for SRH bowling. He smashed huge
103 m six that stunned du Plessis. Kohli and du Plessis put RCB in control with
117 for 0 at the end of second timeout.
Kohli and
du Plessis kept the scoreboard ticking with attacking shots. It was a brilliant
stroke play by both RCB openers. Kohli completed his 6th IPL century
off 62 deliveries to keep RCB on course for a win. Kohli went trying to hit a
big shot caught by Phillips. Kohli and du Plessis added 172 runs.
Faf du
Plessis also got caught by Tripathi at long-on. Bracewell and Maxwell did the
job as RCB chased down the target of 187 easily by 8 wickets with 4 balls to
spare.
RCB 187 for
2 in 19.2 overs ( Kohli 100, du Plessis 71, T Natarajan 1/34) beat SRH 186 for
4 in 20 overs ( Klassen 104*, Bracewell 2/13) by 8 wickets.
For his 100
of 63 deliveries, Virat Kohli was named the player of the match. With this win,
RCB moved to fourth place in points table and would look to win their league
match against GT on 21 May at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
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