Royal Challengers Bangalore Vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad wiped out Royal Challenger Bangalore in a close encounter

Sunriser Hyderabad once again proven that they are not playing the game as a underdog team. Their wins over Royal Challenge Bangalore clearly indicated their intention and enthusiasm. Despite of not having big names in the team, they settled down with two consecutive wins. Yesterday’s game had gone into Twenty20 cricket’s sudden death – the Super Over. Steyn had to defend 20 runs, thanks to Cameron White’s bolstering knock and phenomenal hits off Vinay Kumar and came out on top as Royal Challengers fell  five runs short.

It was a dog eat dog contest throughout the forty overs in the electrifying atmosphere of Hyderabad. Defending seven at last over was not a cup of tea for Royal Challenger Bangalore, Vinay bowled an impressive 20^th over for the second game in a row conceding only 6 runs, but could not continue the momentum in the tiebreaker. He was Virat Kohli’s go – to man after he had defended 10 runs off the last over against Mumbai Indians.

The seasaw battle began with Sunriser got big fish Gayle to part timer Hanuma Vihari's first ball in IPL cricket and Dilshan was bowled by Ishan Sharma, Kohli and Henriques had to resurrect the innings and added 43 runs  for the fouth wicket. Henriques’ calibrated innings 44 came off 40 balls with five boundaries finished when Ishant perplexed him by a slower delivery.

The Sunriser chase held together by newcomer Vihari’s unbeaten 44 off 46 balls but he never took the game away from Royal Challenger Bangalore albeit he ensured to keep scoreboard ticking inspite of losing wickets at a regular intervals. He would have expected someone to leading from the front like his captain Sangakkara and Perera unlike couldn’t happended in line with his expectations. The game boiled down to such a finish because of the 23 runs stand for the seventh wicket between Vihari and Reddy. Vinay who had merely invincible run out Amit Mishra, was smashed for 14 runs in 18^th over. Murali Kartik had to keep Royal Challenge Bangalore in the game and he conceded only 7 runs in the penultimate over before Vinay propeled to tie.

White and Perera were Sunriser’s preference for the Super over, and they outdid Royal Challengers’ Gayle and Kohli.   

Mumbai Indians Vs Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challenger Bangalore clinched the battle in a nail biting thriller

Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainty. Nothing is certain except its uncertainty. Yesterday match had showcase and proven this proclamation once again.  A nerveless final over from Vinay Kumar instrumentalized Royal Challenge Bangalore to earn a dramatic two – run victory over Mumbai Indians at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in the second match of IPL 2013.

Chris Gayle’s storm once again enable RCB to won the first match of a season. His blitzkrieg unbeaten 92 from 58 balls helped his side overcome a pedestrain start, and sailed them to 156 for 5. Gayle began his innings with uncharacteristic reticence, later on he was dealing with fours and sixes. RCB’s start couldn’t streamline with their plans. Early back to back breakthroughs pushed RCB on the backfoot. Despite of losing wickets at one end albeit Gayle planned his innings in a fabulous way launched sixes missile at the regular intervals. Jasprit Bumrah of Mumbai Indians took 3 crucial wickets in his maiden IPL match and conceded 32 runs. A dream debut of young boy.

Mumbai’s reply was promising at the outset, legends Sachin and Pointing – opening together for the first time – hit 50 runs together in just over 7 overs. But despite that solid foundation, top order batsmen couldn’t capitalise the innings and was unable to lower the asking rate for much of their innings. Dinesh Karthik, Rohit Sharma and Ambati Rayudu allowed the pressure to escalate through a meandering approach during the middle overs. It was Karthik who hit out three consecutive sixes and a four, to plunder 24 runs. Although that mini improvisation bestowed by Karthik couldn’t lasting long enough, a terrific penultimate overs from Jaydev Unadkat and Vinay Kumar, yield the RCB to come off with flying colors.  

IPL Mania Season 6: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Daredevils

Kolkata opened the account in an astonishing fashion

In 2008, Kolkata kick started the inaugural match of IPL in a fabulous way. It was Brendom McCullum who set the triumphant tone of IPL 2008 and eventually demolished Bangalore out of game. The history was repeated yesterday in the inaugural boxing match of IPL 2013 as well but it was Sunil Narine who spins the Kolkata to win in opener. Kolkata performance was a dominating one for the circumstances they played as a defending champion. Sunil Narine and Rajat Bhatia who restricted the Delhi Daredevils batsmen and Captain Gautam Gambhir anchored the bulk of the chase.

Gautam Gambhir won the toss and elected to field, the luck was in favour of Kolkata to had a field first in the slower track. Delhi start was not in line with the captain’s expectation Knight Riders snatched the initiative as early as the first ball. Unmukt Chand, an emerging star in Indian Cricket was beaten by a lovely outswinger from Brett Lee that knocked out off stump. Narine played a pivotal role in Knight Riders victorious season in 2012 and his variation was confounding the batsmen. After Chand’s dismissal things were starting to build up but one again Narine had given the breakthough in the form of David Warner who was baffled by a sharp offspinner and persistently proving an ace for his captain. After Warner’s  departs, wickets were falling at regular interval.

Mahela Jaywardene, however, looked in control, customising and adapting the condition expertly to the approach the pitch demanded, restraining himself from playing blinder and rely on touch and go process. Mahela’s significant contribution of 66 runs helped Delhi DareDevils to stretch the score to 128 runs.

A sense of urgency was more evident in Gambhir’s start to the chase, as he stepped out to smack Irfan for a four and a six in third over, the latter clearing long – on despite of fall of wicket of Bisla at second over. Jacques Kallis at the other end was finding the boundary with lesser effort, timing the ball gloriously. The partnership added 47 runs in less than six overs.

Gambhir ensured a steady run flow after losing Kallis, but again Manoj and Gambhir were re – building the innings and later on Gambhir and Manoj fell in quick succession, but Knight Riders were in control of the chase. Morgan and Yusuf ensured that the task was completed to prevent further hiccup and without any fuss.