IPL 2018 RCB vs SRH: Bangalore sets 219-run target for Hyderabad

Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) ripped apart the best bowling lineup in Indian Premier League (IPL 2018), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), to post a mammoth 218/6 in final 20 overs at the M Chinnaswamy ground here on Thursday.

After the dearly departures of Parthiv Patel (1 off 4) and skipper Virat Kohli (12 off 11, 2 fours), Ab de Villiers and Moeen Ali stitched together a belligerent 107-run partnership off only 57 balls.

De Villiers was the highest scorer with 69 runs off only 39 balls with the help of 12 fours and a humongous 105-meter six, while Ali scored 65 runs off only 34 balls with 2 fours and 6 sixes.

Colin de Grandhomme played an aggressive cameo scoring 40 runs off only 17 balls hitting 1 four and 4 sixes. Mandeep Singh (4 off 6) failed to click and went back cheaply but Sarfaraz Khan played a memorable 8-ball inning which fetched very crucial 22 runs for RCB. He smashed 3 fours and a six.

Tim Southee scored 1 run off the only ball he faced.

Also Read: IPL 2018 RCB vs SRH: Hyderabad wins toss; Bangalore to bat

It was a nightmare four over-spell for Basil Thampi who was framed into the side in place of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He was dealt brutally by every RCB batsman as he gave away 70 runs in his four overs.

Rashid Khan was the most impressive bowler as he reduced the total at least by 20 runs by dismissing De Villiers and Ali in the same over. He finally ended his four over spell for 27 runs and picked up three wickets.

Sandeep Sharma though picked up a wicket but went for 40 runs, while Shakib Al Hasan remained wicket-less and conceded 35 runs. Siddharth Kaul also grabbed two successes but conceded 44 runs.

It is not going to be easy for SRH to chase down a target as big as 219 runs.