Highlights, IPL 2018, Match 51: Royal Challengers Bangalore outshine Sunrisers Hyderabad by 14 runs to stay afloat

HIGHLIGHTS, RCB vs SRH

Bangalore are still in the race for the playoffs. Yes, the young Siraj has held his nerves to get his side over the line. What a dynamic game we have witnessed! Got to feel for Hyderabad. The visitors got off to a decent start but two wickets in quick succession pegged them back. However, it was the ever-reliable Kane Williamson who combined finesse with timing to keep his side in the hunt. Pandey struggled initially but found his touch gradually. The 136-run stand between the duo kept them afloat. The hosts were shoddy in the field and that helped the cause of the visitors. It was Chahal's spell in the middle overs which put the brakes on the opposition. Umesh Yadav was good as well. The scoreboard pressure was too much eventually and in the end, Siraj delivered a good over to restrict the visitors. (SCORECARD) (IPL Full Coverage)

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE VS SUNRISERS HYDERABAD HIGHLIGHTS FROM BENGALURU

23.41 IST: Royal Challengers Bangalore (218/6) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad (204/3) by 14 runs at M Chinnaswamy. Williamson 81, Pandey 62*, Ali 1/21. Mohammed Siraj to Manish Pandey, 1 run. That's it! Banaglore hold their nerves and defend the target successfully. They are still alive in the competition. Full and straight from Siraj, Pandey milks it through mid-wicket for one. BANGALORE WIN BY 14 RUNS AND MOVE TO 12 POINTS NOW.

23.35 IST: Deepak Hooda is the new man in.

23.34 IST: OUT! Siraj removes Williamson for 81. Colin takes it near the ropes. Relief from Siraj and Williamson has to depart. What an innings this has been. So close yet so far. Siraj bowls a length ball down leg, Kane shuffles across but gets a top edge to it. The ball balloons towards fine leg and de Grandhomme makes no mistake. 20 from the last 5 balls. Sunrisers Hyderabad 199/3 in 19.1 overs vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (218/6) at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

23.30 IST: FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries and Pandey finds the gap again. Lofts this full ball over covers in the gap.

23.28 IST: FIFTY! Manish Pandey hits his 12th IPL half-century. FOUR! Another misfield and this will cost them four runs. Full ball from Tim on off, Pandey hits it hard straight back. Colinm from long off runs to it but can't get low enough. Boundary. Sunrisers Hyderabad 189/2 in 18.1 overs vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (218/6) at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

23.21 IST: FOUR! Clever! This time lofts this over the short third man fielder for back-to-back boundaries. Game on!

23.19 IST: SIX! Full ball down leg, Pandey gets into position early and paddles this over short fine leg for a biggie. Needs to make up for the last over.

23.16 IST: Tim Southee is called back to bowl at the death.

23.14 IST: Strategic break! 55 from the last four overs. Hyderabad have to keep going. Bangalore need a wicket from someone. This game is going down to the wire. Saves some nails.

23.09 IST: FOUR! This is poor bowling! Short delivery outside leg stump, asking to be hit. Pandey obliges and hammers the pull through backward square leg to find the fence.

23.05 IST: SIX! SHOT! Pulled with authority from Williamson! Short again from Umesh, Kane throws the kitchen sink at it and gets maximum.

23.02 IST: FOUR! Kane continues to impress! Back of a length ball outside off, Williamson cuts it to the backward point region for another boundary.

22.58 IST: FIFTY! Kane Williamson hits his 11th IPL half-century. Colin de Grandhomme to Kane Williamson, 2 runs. 8th Indian T20 League fifty this season for Kane Williamson! He needs to play another great knock today. Plays this with soft hands through mid-wicket, a fumble there allows them to come back for the second. Sunrisers Hyderabad 109/2 in 12.3 overs vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (218/6) at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

22.54 IST: FOUR! Follows the biggie with a boundary! Waits for the ball outside off and cuts it in the gap to the deep backward point region.

22.52 IST: SIX! 100 up for Hyderabad! Pulls this with disdain over square leg for a biggie! AB was there but could only watch the ball go past him.

22.48 IST: SIX! You beauty! 16 from 3 balls now. Kane is taking the charge on and giving Ali the taste of his own medicine. Lofts this over mid on for half a dozen.

22.45 IST: FOUR! Good start to the over! Picks up the ball early and sweeps this in the gap to the deep square leg region.

22.39 IST: Manish Pandey is the new man in.

22.38 IST: OUT! Moeen Ali removes Hales for 37. CATCH OF THE SEASON. PERIOD. Superman stuff from the master, AB de Villiers! Stop what you are doing and watch this catch. There is nothing he cannot do. Short ball from Ali on off, Hales hangs back and pulls it towards the deep mid-wicket boundary. AB there, runs to his right, jumps high and takes it with his right hand. Lands just inside the ropes and kicks the ball in celebration. The Bangalore players run towards him to join in celebration. A fielder's wicket that. Sunrisers Hyderabad 64/2 in 8 overs vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (218/6) at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

22.30 IST: FOUR! They keep finding the boundary at regular intervals. Sweeps this flighted ball from down leg to the fine leg region.

22.28 IST: FOUR! Executive from the skipper! Delightful to watch. Tossed up ball from the bowler, Williamson flicks it in the gap through mid-wicket for a boundary.

22.26 IST: Kane Williamson walks in next.

​22.25 IST: OUT! Chahal removes Dhawan for 18. Soft dismissal! Dhawan will be kicking himself. Chahal gives this air on middle and leg, Dhawan charges to the ball, gets beaten for pace and ends by chipping the ball to Chahal. The bowler excepts it and makes no mistake. Big wicket for Bangalore as Dhawan an prove more than a handful. They still require 172 runs more. Sunrisers Hyderabad 47/1 in 5.1 overs vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (218/6) at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

​22.18 IST: SIX! Starts one bowling it short and Dhawan pulls it high and handsome over the square leg region for another biggie.

22.12 IST: Umesh Yadav to Alex Hales, NOT OUT! Oh dear! I was all prepared to burt out adjectives for the catch! The let's hold onto them. Hales survives! Short ball from Umesh, Hales stays back and pulls it towards deep square leg. Southee there hares forward and jumps low to take the catch. Everyone one was in awee of it and the umpires too thought it was clean! On seeing the replay, looks like the ball might have just touched the ground before completing the catch. The batsmen cross.

22.05 IST: SIX! Full ball in line of the stumps, Dhawan gets behind it and lofts it over mid on for the first biggie. Up go the arms of the umpire. SRH 9/0 in 1.1 overs.

22.00 IST: We are back for the chase! The Bangalore bowlers have done pretty well in the last games. Can they do the same today? Shikhar Dhawan and Alex Hales will open for Hyderabad. Umesh Yadav will get Bangalore underway. Let's play!

21.45 IST: Royal Challengers Bangalore score 218/6 in 20 overs against Sunrisers Hyderabad at M Chinnaswamy. De Villiers 69, Ali 65, Rashid 3/27.  Siddarth Kaul to Sarfaraz Khan, FOUR! Sarfraz finishes off in style and thanks the heavens! Low full toss on the pads, he doesn't misses out and picks it through backward square leg for a boundary. BANGALORE FINISH ON 218/6!

21.41 IST: Tim Southee is the new man in.

21.40 IST: OUT! Siddarth Kaul removes de Grandhomme for 40. Take a bow, Rashid Khan! He is sensational. Short ball, de Grandhomme absolutely muscles the pull over mid-wicket. It is travelling at the speed of knots and Rashid Khan near the boundary ropes is steady. Takes a gem of a catch and tumbles over. Hangs on!  Royal Challengers Bangalore 210/6 in 19.2 overs vs Sunrisers Hyderabad at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.​

21.38 IST: SIX! Most expensive figure in the Indian T20 League ever, something which he will like to forget! Creativity at its best from Sarfaraz. Low full toss around off, Khan paddle scoops it over short third man. Brilliant execution.

21.36 IST: FOUR! The young man is delivering! Very full outside off, Khan is calm and carves it past the man at backward point to send the ball across the ropes.

21.34 IST: SIX! This is a very, very important cameo from de Grandhomme! He is finding his range. Slower good length ball outside off, Colin reads it well and places it over deep cover for a maximum.

21.32 IST: FOUR! Shot! Short and width on offer, Khan thrashes it past the point region for a boundary.

21.31 IST: De Grandhomme Dropped and SIX! Just over! Length ball, de Grandhomme swings across the line. Rashid Khan at deep mid-wicket misjudges a bit. Tries to backtrack and take it but only manages to parry it over the ropes.

21.30 IST: Sarfraz Khan comes in to bat.

21.29 IST: OUT! Siddarth Kaul removes Mandeep for 4. Singh departs against the run of play! Slower ball around off, Singh gives it his all but mistimes his loft towards long off. Dhawan in the deep gets under it and takes it safely. The popular thigh slap from him to celebrate the wicket. Royal Challengers Bangalore 176/5 in 17.1 overs vs Sunrisers Hyderabad at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

21.20 IST: SIX! Kaboom! Sweet as a nut. Slightly overpitched around off, de Grandhomme with a full bat swing smokes it over the long off fence. 50 up for Thampi, he is leaking a lot of runs.

20.18 IST: FOUR! Streaky runs but Bangalore won't mind. They will want these two to get going. Back of a length ball outside off, de Grandhomme swings hard at it but gets a top edge over short third man. A boundary results.

21.16 IST: Strategic break taken. Meanwhile, Mandeep Singh comes out to bat.

21.15 IST: OUT! Rashid Khan removes Moeen Ali for 65. Gone! Is this the momentum shift that Hyderabad required? The two well set batsmen are back in the hut. Quicker one, sliding down leg, Ali goes for the fancy reverse sweep but fails to connect properly. The ball lobs from the back of his bat and the keeper takes it comfortably. Royal Challengers Bangalore 149/4 in 14.4 overs vs Sunrisers Hyderabad at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

21.13 IST: Colin de Grandhomme is the new man in.

21.12 IST: OUT! Rashid Khan to de Villiers for 69. What a catch! A very, very vital breakthrough! It is Rashid again who produces the goods. However, it has been a scintillating knock from Mr. 360! Tossed up delivery, de Villiers shuffles and goes for the slog sweep but he has got more height than distance on this one. Dhawan at deep square leg is cool as a cucumber. Times his leap to perfection, takes the catch and maintain his balance to keep his feet in play. Terrific take. A standing ovation for AB. Royal Challengers Bangalore 145/3 in 14.2 overs vs Sunrisers Hyderabad at M Chinnaswamy Stadium

21.07 IST: FOUR! Not this time! AB is oozing confidence. Wide outside off, would have been wided if it was let go. However, AB carves it past backward point to find the fence.

21.02 IST: FOUR! Tremendous! Reads the slower ball to perfection, shuffles across and paddle scoops it over short fine leg to get the desired result.

21.00 IST: FIFTY! Moeen Ali hits maiden his IPL half-century. FOUR! First Indian T20 League fifty for Moeen Ali! He has delivered finally. Low full toss around off, Ali carves it through extra cover and the ball races to the fence. Gets a hug and a pat on the back from AB.  Royal Challengers Bangalore 116/2 in 12.1 overs vs Sunrisers Hyderabad at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

20.55 IST: FIFTY! AB de Villiers hits his 27th IPL half-century. FOUR! Come the big occasion, the big player delivers! A masterful display of clean hitting from Mr. 360! Short ball again, sits up nicely for de Villiers. He muscles it away over wide mid on to find the fence again.  Royal Challengers Bangalore 104/2 in 11.3 overs vs Sunrisers Hyderabad at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

20.52 IST: SIX! Going, going, gone! The wrong one from Khan. Ali skips down the track, reads it nicely and lifts it with the spin. The fielder at long off is interested for a bit can only see it sailing over his head.

20.50 IST: SIX! It was actually well taken by Dhawan in the deep but he couldn't control his body. Length ball, Ali drags his heaves towards long on where Shikhar takes a good overhead catch but ends up stepping on the ropes.  RCB 83/2 in 9.5 overs.

20.45 IST: Strategic break taken. Good going from Bangalore. De Villiers is looking really dangerous and Ali is providing him good support as well. Hyderabad need to get rid off the former to stem the flow of runs. Meanwhile, Sandeep Sharma returns for a burst.

20.40 IST: FOUR! The short balls are not working! In the zone for AB. He stands tall and smacks it over cow corner to pick up another boundary.

20.38 IST: SIX! Two in two! It is all about momentum in the shortest format of the game. Typical response from a fast bowler. Bowls a short one after being hammered for a maximum. It sits up nicely for Ali. He pulls it with authority over the man at square leg to clear the fence with ease.

20.36 IST: SIX! Boom! This will do him a world of confidence! Fuller in length around off, it is in the slot. Ali with a high backlift hammers it over long off for a maximum. Timed that sweetly.

20.33 IST: FOUR! Innovative! Quick delivery well outside off, de Villiers gets into the position for reverse sweep and executes it pretty nicely. Gets it past the slip fielder and the ball races to the third man fence.

20.29 IST: FOUR! AB de Villiers is unfazed by the situation. He is carrying on in his own merry way. Full length ball on middle, de Villiers clears his front leg and tonks it over wide mid on. Seems that the ball has landed on the boundary cushions on the full. The umpire wants to check upstairs. The replays are a bit confusing. The third umpire decides to rule it as a boundary. Danny Morrison in the commentary box is not happy with the decision though.  RCB 46/2 in 5.4 overs.

20.22 IST: Moeen Ali strides out to bat.

20.21 IST: OUT! Rashid Khan removes Kohli for 12. Bowled 'em! The young sensation from Afghanistan has got the big fish and he is up and running. Slips in the googly outside off at a quicker pace and gets it to spin in substantially, Kohli reads it correctly and perhaps wants to dominate. The skipper goes for the slog sweep but misses it completely to get his stumps shattered. He was looking in sublime form but he has thrown it away. Would be kicking himself. Royal Challengers Bangalore 38/2 in 4.5 overs vs Sunrisers Hyderabad at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

20.19 IST: FOUR! Poor delivery and duly punished! Half-tracker around off, the wrong one, Kohli sits back and pulls it with aplomb over mid-wicket for a rocketing boundary.

20.14 IST: FOUR! De Villiers wants to make his 250th T20 a special one! He is watching the ball like a football at the moment. Floated outside off, he shuffles across and slog sweeps it over mid-wicket for a one bounce boundary.

20.10 IST: FOUR! Fourth boundary for Mr. 360! He was come with a plan and he is executing it to perfection. In the arc for AB, he backs away and lifts it over extra cover to send the ball across the ropes.

20.07 IST: FOUR! Begins in style! No nerves whatsoever. Short delivery, de Villiers rocks away and slaps it past the backward point fielder for a rocketing boundary. 

20.06 IST: Shakib Al Hasan to share the new ball from the other end. Meanwhile, AB de Villiers, who is playing his 250th T20 game comes out to bat. Gets a grand reception as well.

20.05 IST: OUT! Sandeep Sharma removes Parthiv Patel for 1. Sharma draws first blood! Parthiv was lucky first ball but he departs on the last one. Shortish ball on off, Patel swivels across and goes for the big pull but gets a top edge towards third man. Kaul runs to his right and takes a well-judged catch. End of an eventful over. Royal Challengers Bangalore 6/1 in 1 over vs Sunrisers Hyderabad at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

20.03 IST: FOUR! The skipper is oozing with confidence! He is continuing his sublime form. Fuller in length around off, Kohli walks ahead and caresses it past mid off for a boundary. RCB 5/0 in 0.4 overs.

20.00 IST: We are set to get rolling. Virat Kohli and Parthiv Patel to open the batting for Bangalore. The Chinnaswamy crowd is up and buzzing. Sandeep Sharma to begin the proceedings with the ball.

19.55 IST: Bangalore skipper, Virat Kohli, says that they would have bowled as well but it is not a bad thing to bat first. States that it will give them freedom to play in the first half and test the opposition batting later on. States that the key is to enjoy themselves. Expresses that it has been a great experience to play with his boys. Informs that they have won their last two games and are playing with the same eleven.

19.50 IST: Hyderabad skipper, Kane Williamson, says that that will bowl first. Mentions it is difficult to predict the track and so, they want to try and make use of it with the ball first. Mentions there is one change - Basil Thampi comes in for Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Ends by saying that there has been a lot of workload and they want to manage that.

19.45 IST: Royal Challengers Bangalore Playing XI: Virat Kohli (c), Parthiv Patel (w), Moeen Ali, AB de Villiers, Mandeep Singh, Sarfaraz Khan, Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal

Royal Challengers Bangalore Playing XI

19.40 IST: Sunrisers Hyderabad Playing XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Alex Hales, Kane Williamson (c), Manish Pandey, Deepak Hooda, Shakib Al Hasan, Shreevats Goswami (w), Rashid Khan, Siddarth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma, Basil Thampi

Sunrisers Hyderabad Playing XI

19.35 IST: IPL TOSS! Sunrisers Hyderabad win toss, opt to bowl against Royal Challengers Bangalore at M Chinnaswamy

19.20 IST: England speedster Chris Woakes has left the Royal Challengers Bangalore camp due to his national commitments. Woakes will play for England in their upcoming two-Test series against Pakistan.

19.10 IST: "Please get behind us in our last two games, we stand a chance to get through to the knockouts," AB de Villiers tells RCB fans ahead of the crucial match.

18.56 IST: 

18.51 IST: 

18.40 IST: 

18.35 IST: 

Brief Preview: Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore will aim to continue revival when they host table-toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad in another must-win Indian Premier League encounter at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on Thursday. RCB's hopes have revived after the consecutive victories over Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab, following a sluggish start in the tournament. RCB are still languishing at the second last position on the table, while SRH are on top of the table with 18 points.

Kohli's RCB has endured a tough season, having lost seven of its 12 matches so far but the recent turnaround has rekindled hopes of a possible shot at the playoffs berth provided some other results go the team's way. The hosts are overtly dependant on Kohli and South African swashbuckler AB De Villiers. The two have combined to score nearly half of RCB's total runs this season but the side needs bigger contributions from the likes of Moeen Ali and Corey Anderson. (Read Full Match Preview)