Australians David Warner and Mitchell Starc played pivotal roles in Sunday’s IPL action as the Royal Challengers Bangalore claimed a four-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Warner smashed 61 runs from 49 deliveries to help the Sunrisers post a total of 6-155 in the lone IPL hitout on Sunday, including four boundaries and three sixes to make up for the early losses Aaron Finch (13) and Lokesh Rahul (6). But the Aussie Test hero came unstuck when a Starc yorker which slipped past a walking Warner to collect middle and leg stump.
Starc registered two wickets from his four overs (21 runs), but wasn’t as handy with the bat, falling for five from eight balls.
AB de Villiers proved to be the match winner for the 3-3 Bangalore with an unbeaten 89 from an amazing 41 deliveries.
Replacing Chris Gayle (27) in the sixth over with his side struggling on 3-38, de Villiers went into attack mode and produced immediate results. He finished with a ridiculous eight sixes and a 24-run effort against South African teammate Dale Steyn’s last over to help seal the win.
De Villiers went into Sunday having scored just 73 runs (76 balls) in five innings.
“Today was just one of those days for me when things just go your way,” he said.
“It’s just like a Tennis match between me and Dale. He won the first set and I won the second set. I would have loved to have another set against him but unfortunately he was bowled out. I thought he bowled exceptionally well in the first over, the second over just went my way.
“We’ve got a wonderful bunch of guys, we’ve got a great team spirit. I was just trying to keep my partner calm. The crowd was unbelievable! I love playing in the Garden City, very friendly people and I am fortunate to have played in front of this crowd for 6 odd years.”
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