IPL 9: Warner shines once more in SRH win, RCB falter again

David Warner has been in tremendous form for the Sunrisers. Image Source: File Pic
David Warner scored a blistering 92 for the Sunrisers. Image Source: File Pic

Internet Desk: Sunrisers Hyderabad registered their fourth win after they defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by 15 runs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Saturday. David Warner was at the forefront of SRH’s win yet again, although there were useful contributions from Kane Williamson and Moises Henriques on this occasion. Put into bat, SRH got to 194 – courtesy Warner’s 92 – and then restricted the visitors to 179-6.

In the evening, the RCB captain Virat Kohli won the toss and inserted the hosts in, hoping his bowlers could tap into the moisture in the pitch brought about by pre-match showers. The first five overs were pretty quiet justifying the captain’s decision, with SRH only scoring 33 runs for the loss of Shikhar Dhawan’s wicket. By that time, David Warner had assessed conditions and had made up his plans on how to go about things.

Enter Harshal Patel, and Warner decided it was time to cut loose. The first ball – a No Ball – was hit to the thirdman boundary, the following delivery – a free hit – was hit over the long on boundary, and the fourth ball of the over was cut away to the point boundary. SRH were 49 for 1 at the end of six overs and Warner had set himself up for a long haul.

The left-hander reined himself in briefly, scoring 24 runs of the next 18 balls, and in the company of Kane Williamson – who was called into the Sunrisers XI at the expense of Eoin Morgan – brought up the 50 of the partnership in the tenth over.

Warner brought up his half-century – his fifth of the season – in the tenth over, and then decided it was time to step on the accelerator. Much to the delight of the home fans, both Warner and Williamson cut loose and sent the RCB bowlers on a leather hunt. Over the next five overs, the pair scored more than ten runs in every over, adding a total of 65 runs. Warner was brutal on Kane Richardson, hitting him for two sixes and a four in the 15th over, after which he hit Tabraiz Shamsi for a six to get into the 90s. The SRH captain, dismissed in the 16th over when he holed out to long off, had missed a century that was there for the taking; he made 92 – studded with 9 boundaries and 5 brutal hits over the fence – during his 50-ball stay.

Williamson, who was dismissed in the following over, played a classy knock. The newly appointed New Zealand Test captain, started slowly – scoring 17 of the first 19 balls he faced, but made up for that by smashing 33 of the following 19 balls. He hit seven fours – which included a drive down the ground, a sweep shot off Shamsi, a whip off the pads, and a pull shot off the off-spinner.

Though SRH lost Naman Ojha and Deepak Hooda thereafter, Moises Henriques (1 four, 3 sixes) gave the innings the finishing touches, smashing 31 off just 14 balls, which in the final analysis proved to the difference between the two teams. SRH finished their allotted 20 overs at 194-5 – their highest score of the season.

For RCB, Richardson was the most successful bowler, picking up two wickets. Shane Watson (1-33) and Shamsi (1-39) were the other wicket-takers.

Needing to score at 9.75 runs per over from the beginning of their run chase, RCB were quick off the blocks. Rahul was the first to show intent; he picked up boundaries playing several good looking strokes, but most importantly followed up most boundaries with a single. His opening partner, Virat Kohli (14), scored at a run a ball before he slapped Mustafizur Rahman’s second delivery straight to the man at point in the sixth over.

Rahul and AB de Villiers added 41 runs 4.4 overs before the former feathered a Moises Henriques delivery while attempting to run the ball down to thirdman; Rahul was dismissed for 51 – for the second time in two matches, made from 28 deliveries. At this stage RCB were 83 for 2, still needing 112 from the final ten overs.

Despite losing Shane Watson in the twelfth over, de Villiers (42 from 37 balls) who was given a reprieve twice – on 3 and again 17 – continued to make merry and hit Moises Henriuqes for successive sixes in the 14th over. He was dismissed in the 15th over when he picked out Kane Williamson patrolling the long on boundary. Sachin Baby (27 from 16 balls) and Kedar Jadhav (25*) tried their best, but they could only take their team to 179-6. RCB finished 15 short.