CHENNAI: Royal Challengers Bangalore edged out Sunrisers Hyderabad by six runs for their second successive victory of this Indian Premier League season yesterday.
Hyderabad, who lost their opener on Sunday, faltered in their chase of 150 to finish on 143-9 despite a valiant 54 by skipper David Warner.
Left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed struck three times in one over to make Hyderabad slip from 115-2 to 116-5.
Pace bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Harshal Patel took two wickets each as Bangalore took top spot in the eight-team table.
Glenn Maxwell top-scored with 59 – his first IPL fifty since 2016 – in Bangalore’s 149-8 after being put into bat.
“For us Maxi gave us that momentum and got us closer to 150,” captain Virat Kohli said of his star player, who was bought by Bangalore for $1.95m in the February auctions.
Kohli made 33 off 29 deliveries and put on a key third-wicket partnership of 44 with Maxwell.
Maxwell, batting at number four, stood firm after Kohli’s departure and smashed five fours and three sixes in his 41-ball knock.
West Indies pace bowler Jason Holder made the XI for Hyderabad and claimed three wickets while Afghanistan spin ace Rashid Khan returned figures of 2-18.
The left-handed Warner helped Hyderabad start strongly with his 37-ball knock but he fell to New Zealand quick Kyle Jamieson and the wheels came off the chase.
Today’s fixture: Rajasthan Royals v Delhi Capitals (Mumbai, 5pm).
&uuid=(email))