Sunrisers Hyderabad was the sole team in IPL 2024 that hadn’t lost a single match on their home ground, but now their streak has ended, facing defeat at the hands of Bangalore.
Royal Challengers Bangalore, batting first, posted 206 runs on the board. They got off to a good start, with Virat Kohli bowling well during the powerplay. However, they struggled in the middle overs, and Jaydev Unadkat got out after scoring 51 runs off 43 balls.
Fast to Placid gave Bangalore a solid start by scoring 25 runs off 12 balls in the opening, but it was Rajat Patidar’s innings that gave Bangalore momentum. He scored 50 runs off 20 balls, including four sixes in one over.
At one point, it seemed like Bangalore would score at least 230 runs, but Jaydev Unadkat’s good bowling in the middle overs slowed down their progress. Despite his efforts, Bangalore managed to reach a score of over 200, with contributions from Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik, and Sapna Singh.
After the first half, Hyderabad needed 296 runs to win. It seemed like they might make a comeback in the 16th and 17th overs, but Faf du Plessis made a gamble, giving the first over to right-arm bowler Will Jacks. Jacks, known for his powerplay bowling, proved effective, taking a crucial wicket in the very first over.
Although Abhishek Sharma made some good shots and scored 31 runs off 12 balls, his wicket was taken by Yash Dayal, strengthening Bangalore’s grip on the match. Left-arm spinner Swapnil Singh dismissed Eden Markram, further solidifying Bangalore’s position.
Hyderabad’s batting lineup struggled, with wickets falling consistently. Even though Karan Sharma took two wickets, and Ahmad contributed with 40 runs, Hyderabad couldn’t reach Bangalore’s total. Their captain, Fat du Plessis, made a few good shots, but Pat Cummins dismissed him in the 17th over, sealing Hyderabad’s defeat.
Chasing 207 runs, Hyderabad only managed to score 171 runs, losing the match by 35 runs.
After six consecutive losses, Bangalore finally found an opportunity to taste victory. Their journey has been one of struggle, with no shortcomings in leadership. While batting has shown some improvement, it was the bowlers who had disappointed until now.
However, today, it seems like Mohammad Siraj, Yash Dayal, and Cameron Green have stepped up with commendable bowling performances. Green’s impressive catch and contribution with the bat further bolstered their performance. With such stellar bowling, it feels like Bangalore is back on the path to victory, poised to win more matches in the upcoming games.
