Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) kept their IPL 2023 playoffs hopes alive with an eight-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on Thursday (May 18).
Invited to bat first, SRH rode on wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen’s maiden IPL century (104 off 51 balls) to post 186/5 on the board.
Pacer Mohammed Siraj was the pick of the bowlers for RCB, returning with the figures of 1 for 17 in his four-over spell. Michael Bracewell also bowled well, taking two wickets by conceding 13 runs in his two overs.
Chasing the stiff target, RCB’s duo of Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis took the Sunrisers attack to the cleaners, adding 172 runs for the opening wicket.
In particular, Virat was severe on the SRH bowlers as he slammed 100 off 62 balls before getting out in the 18th over. It was Kohli’s sixth hundred in the IPL and his first after four years. His knock was studded with 12 fours and 4 sixes.
Soon after Kohli’s dismissal, Du Plessis got out in the penultimate over after scoring 71 off 47 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes.
With 10 needed off 10 balls, Michael Bracewell (4*) joined Glenn Maxwell (5*) at the crease and the pair scored the remaining runs to take RCB over the line with four deliveries to spare.
For their stunning display with the bat, Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis received rich praise from the cricket fraternity on Twitter.
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