BANGALORE: Moeen Ali smashed his first IPL fifty and AB de Villiers his 30th as Royal Challengers Bangalore beat a Kane Williamson-inspired Sunrisers Hyderabad by 14 runs in a high-scoring thriller yesterday to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Ali (65 off 34) reached fifty from 25 balls and blazed a third-wicket stand of 107 with De Villiers (69 off 39) from 57 deliveries as RCB racked up 218-6, Colin de Grandhomme (40 off 17) and Sarfaraz Khan (22no off 8) firing late on as Sunrisers seamer Basil Thampi (0-70) conceded the most runs ever in an IPL innings.
Williamson (81 off 42) and Manish Pandey (62no off 38) had Sunrisers on course to complete the highest successful IPL run chase – which remains the 217-7 Rajasthan Royals struck against Deccan Chargers in 2008 – with a third-wicket partnership of 135, leaving 20 needed from six balls.
However, Williamson fell to the first delivery of Mohammad Siraj’s final over – caught by fellow New Zealander De Grandhomme at fine leg – and the paceman conceded just five runs, meaning RCB will now meet Rajasthan in a potential shootout for the top four in Jaipur tomorrow.
BRIEF SCORES: Royal Challengers Bangalore 218 for 6 (De Villiers 69, Moeen 65, Rashid 3-27) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad 204 for 3 (Williamson 81, Pandey 62*, Chahal 1-28) by 14 runs.
TODAY’S MATCH: Delhi Daredevils vs Chennai Super Kings (Delhi, 5.30pm)