Sunrisers strike back to check RCB

Bengaluru, April 13: New Zealand new ball bowler Trent Boult kept Sunrisers Hyderabad in the hunt with a three-wicket burst in the penultimate over as Royal Challengers Bangalore were pegged to 166 in an Indian Premier League match here on Monday.

Besides Boult, former England seamer Ravi Bopara picked up two wickets in one over as did India spearhead Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the 20th as RCB wasted a bright start after being asked to bat first.

The hosts threatened a big score, but despite some big hitting by Chris Gayle (21, 16b, 3x4, 1x6), skipper Virat Kohli (41, 37b, 4x4, 2x6) and AB de Villiers (46, 28b, 5x4, 2x6), failed to collar the Hyderabad attack that struck telling blows at crucial moments to stay in the match.

RCB were quick off the blocks with Gayle and Kohli belting Sunrisers seamers Trent Boult and Bhuvneshwar Kumar around the ground with a flurry of boundaries and sixes. In fact, the Kiwi bowler went for 25 runs in his three overs.

However, Gayle chanced his arms once too often as he flicked one-change seamer Praveen Kumar into the hands of Ashish Reddy at mid-wicket as Sunrisers achieved a breakthrough they were desperate for.

Thus, RCB maged 47 for one in the first powerplay of six overs before Sunrisers clawed their way back into the game by taking three more wickets in just two overs.

Leg-spinner Karn Sharma had Dinesh Karthik top edging an across-the-line sweep. In the next over, former England seamer Ravi Bopara dismissed Kohli and Mandeep Singh off consecutive deliveries as RCB slid to 93 for four in 12 overs.

Kohli, who was looking good for a big score, missed the line and was bowled while Mandeep Singh was caught by a flying Warner as the batsman lead-edged an intended flick.

Hereabouts, RCB lost their way despite de Villiers blasting a 28-ball 46. The South African ace and his compatriot Sean Abbott (14) departed off consecutive deliveries attempting big hits in the 19th over bowled by Boult who went on to complete a fine over by taking a third wicket, that of Harshal Patel.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, bowling the last over, cleaned up Varun Aaron (6) and Abu Nechim (4) as RCB were all out for 166.

Brief scores:

Royal Challengers Bangalore 166 all out in 19.5 overs (Chris Gayle 21, Virat Kohli 41, AB de Villiers 46, Trent Boult 3 for 36, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2 for 30, Ravi Bopara 2 for 31) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad. IANS