Sunrisers Hyderabad yesterday night pulled off a nail-biting win over Royal Challengers Bangalore via the Super Over in their Pepsi Indian Premier League (IPL) match here.
With both teams tied at 130 after the end of Hyderabad’s innings, the result was decided with the help of a Super Over wherein both sides got six balls each.
Cameron White smashed Vinay Kumar for two sixes, one each over long-on and long-off, to help Hyderabad score 20 runs in the Super Over. In reply, Bangalore could manage only 15 against a fired-up Dale Steyn, despite Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli hitting a six and a four each.
Earlier, needing seven runs in the last over with four wickets in hand, Hyderabad could not cross the finishing line despite Man of the Match Hanuma Vihari (44 not out) standing firm in the middle.
Chasing a competitive total, Hyderabad lost Parthiv Patel early to Moises Henriques, the Australian having the opener caught behind for just two.
Henriques soon struck again, this time removing Cameron White who lobbed a catch at mid-off.
Veteran off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan spinner was introduced in the ninth over and the Sri Lankan struck immediately, disturbing Akshat Reddy’s off-stump.
Reddy’s dismissal for 25 brought to the middle Hyderabad’s best batsman, skipper Kumar Sangakkara.
At the halfway stage, Hyderabad were 56 for three, needing another 75 to record their second straight win. RCB were similarly placed at this stage of their innings.
But the most important thing for Hyderabad was that they had Sagakkara at the crease. Along with Hanuma Vihari, the left-hander added 33 runs for the fourth wicket, before Jaydev Unadkat’s re-introduction into the attack did the trick for Bangalore. Unadkat induced Sangakkara to edge one that took off from a good length.
Thisara Perera smashed one back past the bowler first up but lack of discretion on his part show him throw away his wicket off a slower ball at a crucial juncture, with Hyderabad needing 33 off 25 balls.