IPL 2021: Bhuvneshwar Kumar's heroics in final over help SRH register upset win over RCB

Team India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar showcased his ability to step up and get the job done under pressure once again, in the final over of Match 52 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. Bhuvneshwar defended just 12 runs in the final over with AB de Villiers at the other end, while representing Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in an encounter against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The pacer’s heroics helped the Hyderabad-based franchise defend a total of 141, pulling off a win by a margin of four runs. This defeat for RCB certainly makes the fight for a top-two finish in the ongoing edition all the more interesting.

Bhuvneshwar enjoyed quality support from Jason Holder, Siddarth Kaul and Umran Malik who were quite economical, going on to account for a dismissal apiece. Glenn Maxwell was the top run-getter for RCB, smashing 40 runs off 25 deliveries in an innings comprising of three boundaries and two sixes. Opener Devdutt Padikkal certainly was guilty of not showing the required intent, accumulating just 41 runs from 52 balls. Devdutt’s knock included four fours. The rest of the batsmen could never really get going, with skipper Virat Kohli guilty of the same as well.

“Great to see some of those small improvements”

SRH skipper Kane Williamson was elated following the triumph.

“It’s been a tough season and it’s great to see some of those small improvements. To see those small adjustments was good, we thought that total was competitive and we saw that fight throughout the ball as well. I was just trying to maximize the powerplay and the ball was holding on the surface and we were fortunate to build a partnership and we knew things wouldn’t happen quickly from a bowling perspective, but we knew if we held our nerve and stay there for longer periods, we can build that pressure. Game was getting tight and dismissing him (Maxwell) one way or the other was the key, they are a fantastic side and even though we are not in the contention it was great to see the fight,” he said as quoted by Cricbuzz.

“He certainly is special (on Umran Malik). We saw him in the nets in the last couple of seasons and he is a real competitor and is proving to be effective even on slower surfaces. He’s got a lot of mates in the team as well and that helps in sharing the knowledge. It’s a great opportunity for the younger guys to get involved and hopefully we will keep learning and we go again on Friday. Lot of last over finishes and we keep trying and applying ourselves and the surfaces haven’t allowed for a rhythm and it’s good to see the win,” added Williamson.

“Don’t want to stretch these games too deep”

Kohli urged his batsmen to look to wrap up chases as soon as possible.

“The intent has to be to try and get it done as soon as possible. We don’t want to stretch these games too deep, but having lost a couple of early wickets, rebuilding was key. Maxi’s [Maxwell] run-out was the game-changing moment in terms of momentum and Maxi was in the zone to get a couple of big overs. With AB [de Villiers] you are never out of the game, but it is about making sure that the guy who’s in flow is on strike in the crucial moments. We had a good first half with the ball but not as effective with the bat chasing that down,” he said.

Harshal Patel’s three-wicket haul helps restrict Sunrisers Hyderabad to 141

Harshal Patel registered a three-wicket haul to help restrict the Hyderabad-based franchise to a total of just 141 runs for the loss of seven wickets. The Indian all-rounder accounted for the dismissals of Kane Williamson, Wriddhiman Saha and Jason Holder in a statement of intent. He received quality support from Australian all-rounder Daniel Christian, who sent Jason Roy and Priyam Garg back to the pavilion.