HYDERABAD: There was sea of orange. The fans did not go home disappointed as Sunrisers broke the three-match home jinx and recorded a convincing seven-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Tuesday.
But it was too little to cheer as far as their chances of a place in the play-offs was concerned. It looked a distant dream, now given their points positions and run-rate, they are very much in it. The Sunrisers’ win, however, doused RCB’s little hopes also.
It was a close match in the end. Set to chase 161 for a win amidst a rain-threat, man-of-the-match David Warner (59 off 46 balls, 3x4, 4x6) provided the thunder while Shikhar Dhawan (50 off 39 balls, 7x4, 1x6) the lightning as the home team reached the target with two balls to spare. Even as the dark clouds enveloped the stadium, the two left-handed openers rose to the occasion and made short shrift of the total to vanquish RCB.
Earlier in the RCB innings, skipper Virat Kohli finally rediscovered his form and touch. The aggressive batsman hit a 41-ball 67 to lift RCB to a challenging total.
There was a change in the batting order for Sunrisers and Warner came out to open with Dhawan. But it was Dhawan who meant business straight-away. He batted with vigour and purpose. Warner whacked more power into his shots to decimate the bowlers. The two put up the best opening stand of 100 runs. Dhawan, who like Kohli found runs, got to his first half-century of the season before he was run-out.
Warner went on to complete his fifth half-century. The left-hander departed with Sunrisers a few runs from victory. The RCB bowlers were tight and the match was heading for a close finish. But Naman Ojha hit his second six in the 19th over, off Varun Aaron before he fell to a tame catch. Skipper Darren Sammy’s straight six in the same over ensured the home team did not suffer any further hiccups. Sammy hit the winning runs.