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Preview: After spearing defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their own backyard, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will be on a high and probably at their most dangerous when they host Sunrisers Hyderabad in the first home game of the 2015 Indian Premier League (IPL) on Monday. The Sunrisers will have had very little time to even lick their wounds much less recover fully from the 45-run drubbing in Chennai where they went down to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Saturday and they face an uphill task against the RCB. [caption id=“attachment_2194987” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will be on a high and probably at their most dangerous when they host Sunrisers Hyderabad. BCCI[/caption] Virat Kohli’s RCB could not have asked for a better start to the new season as the team showed plenty of character to tame KKR at the Eden Gardens on Saturday, especially with the form of their key batsman Chris Gayle, who topped the charts with a blistering 56-ball 96 that paved the way for a three-wicket win. Although it is early days to form definitive opinion on the teams, RCB seem to have the tools to do far better than their poor seventh place finish last season when nothing quite went right for them from the outset. The win over KKR has provided RCB just the kind of momentum that they will look to sustain on Monday when they face a side that has had little to show in the IPL although it won the title in its earlier avatar as Deccan Chargers in 2009 under Aussie great Adam Gilchrist. Having lost their first match, David Warner’s Sunrisers have plenty to do. While their bowling, spearheaded by pacemen Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Trent Boult, appears more than adequate despite the pasting at Chennai, it is the batting, especially the middle-order, that has always been a perennial problem for the Sunrisers. In the event, the pressure is on the explosive Warner and fellow-opener Shikhar Dhawan to provide the kind of starts that can help win matches and the side will be looking up to this pair on Monday when they will be up against a side brimming with confidence. RCB will be hoping that their middle-order and also Kohli will get into the groove and, to this end, a home game provides the right environment. Although the pre-match indicators point to a RCB win on the morrow, a T20 bash is essentially a lottery and surely, the Sunrisers wouldn’t mind a windfall. (IANS)
IPL 8 RCB vs SRH as it happened: Warner, Dhawan fifties help SRH crush RCB
Live updates as RCB take on SRH at home in IPL 8’s preliminary round.
 "IPL 8 RCB vs SRH as it happened: Warner, Dhawan fifties help SRH crush RCB")
Sunny G update: Lokesh Rahul's scored a century in Only his second Test in Australia BUT he has shown he can play both formats#RCBvSRH
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) April 13, 2015
That’s it! SRH crush RCB by 8 wickets.
Rahul finishes it off in style as he thumps Aaron through mid off for a four and then clobbers a full toss over long leg for a six to hit the winning runs. A thumping win for SRH.
After 17 overs, SRH 162/2, THE NEED 5 FROM 18!
Looks like the RCB bowlers have given up too, Nechim delivers 5 wides and a no ball and Dhawan cracks it for a six over deep square leg to bring up his FIFTY!
After 16 overs, SRH 142/2, They need 25 from 24 balls.
It’s all too easy for SRH and they are cruising. Rahul at first pulls it to deep square leg for a four off Nechim and then Dhawan hammers a pull over deep suare leg for a huge six. 13 runs off the Nechim over. The batsmen bat sensibly against Chahal – the best bowler of the day and milk him for 5 runs in the over.
After 14 overs, SRH 124/2, they need 43 off 36 balls
A couple of tight overs from RCB but they need wickets. Aarona nd Abbott are brought back but they haven’t managed to take a wicket. 11 runs off the last two overs.
After Chahal, now Aaron's towel drops.
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) April 13, 2015
Thoughts are with Sreesanth.#rcbvsrh
I think the way ahead for #RCB is to get 2 overs from one of their top 6. Think @henrygayle should step up. Can play Rossouw then.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 13, 2015
After 12 overs, SRH 113/2, they need 54 off 48 balls
Sammy bowled a decent over until the last ball where he bowled short and Rahul pulled it over mid-wicket for a boundary. Rahul then clobbers Chahal straight back over his head for another boundary. Runs are flowing and RCB need a wicket here. 18 runs off the last two overs.
After 10 overs, SRH 95/2
RCB have pulled it back really well. Harshal does well on his comeback over and concedes just 7 runs. Chahal then gets the wicket of Williamson and concedes just 5 runs. 12 runs and a wicket off the last two overs.
OUT! Chahal gets another one. Terrific bowling as he sends Williamson back to pavilion. KS Williamson st Karthik b Chahal 5 (9b 0x4 0x6)
Terrific keeping from Karthik. Length delivery on off, spins away. Williamson gets down to sweep but misses, his back foor is outside the crease, Karthik shows good presence of mind and whips the bails off in a flash. Replays show Williamson was indeed out.
KL Rahul is the new batsman.
Dhawan must have been tempted to high five Virat and give a send off to Warner. They have been doing that all summer in Aus. #IPL
— cricBC (@cricBC) April 13, 2015
After 8 overs, SRH 83/1
Dhawan is playing smartly here and not trying to take too many risks. He cracks one through covers for a lovely four off Sammy. Warner then hammers a six over deep square leg for a six before falling to the same bowler. RCB hwould now look to choke the new batsman Kane Williamson. 18 runs and a wicket off the last two overs.
OUT! Chahal gets the big one! Warner departs! D Warner lbw b Chahal 57 (27b 6×4 4×6)
Length delivery outside off, spins back in sharply. Warner gets down for a heave but misses and gets hit on the back leg. The umpire raises his finger straightaway on the appeal.
Kane Williamson is the new batsman.
FIFTY for Warner!
Warner gets to his fifty off just 24 balls. 6 fours and three sixes in his innings so far.
#SRH so far: 4 2 1 4 4 1 1 4 4 wd . 4 6 . 4 . 1 . . . 1 . 1 . . 4 4 6 . 1 . . . 6 . 1 . 65/0 after 6 overs #IPL #RCBvSRH
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) April 13, 2015
After 5 overs, SRH 65/0
Warner is looking ominous now. Smashes Aaron four over his head and then cracks it through mid-wicket off the next ball for another four and then hammers a slash over backward point for a six. 15 runs off the Aaron over. Warner then clobbers a pull over long on for another six. 22 runs off the last two overs. SRH cruising.
After 4 overs, SRH 43/0
RCB have pulled it back well in the last two overs. Aaron misses his marker with a low fullt too and Dhawan crushes it through covers for a four. Aaron recovers well to concede just one run off the next four balls which included a brilliant yorker to Dhawan. Nechim is then brought into the attack and he bowls a brilliant over conceding just 2 runs.
After 2 overs, SRH 36/0
A brillaint start for SRH. Dhawan and Warner hammered 16 runs off the first over from Abbott. A couple of glorious cover drives from Warner and Dhawan each and then Dhawan flicked one through mid-wicket for another boundary. 16 runs off the first over. Harshal Patel shares the new ball, Warner flicks him over fine leg for a four and then smashes it straight back for consecutive boundaries. He then hammers a full toss through covers for the third four of the over and then pulls the last ball over deep mid-wicket for a six. 6 fours and a six in the first 2 overs.
#RCB -> Royally Collapsed Bangalore. 6 wickets for 41 runs. Brilliant comeback from #SRH #RCBvSRH #IPL
— Aditya (@forwardshortleg) April 13, 2015
This is what we feared with #RCB. The bowlers don't bat and the batsmen don't bowl. Top 5 have to get the runs! #PepsiIPL
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 13, 2015
RCB ALL OUT FOR 166!
Brilliant last couple of overs from SRH! Boul took 3 wickets for 11 runs in the penultimate over and then Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 2 wickets for six runs. 53/6 in the last five overs!
OUT! Bhuvi strikes with a brilliant yorker! VR Aaron b B Kumar 6 (3b 0x4 1×6)
Aaron had hit him for a six off the slower ball, Bhuvi hits back hard with a brilliant yorker.
OUT! Bhuvi strikes the last blow with another brilliant yorker to remove Nechim. AN Ahmed b B Kumar 4 (2b 1×4 0x6)
OUT! 3 wickets in the over for Boult now! Harshal departs! H Patel c Williamson b Boult 2 (2b 0x4 0x6)
This might be the match turning over from Boult. Short from Boult, Harshal looks to pull but gets a top edge to mid-wicket where Williamson takes a very good catch.
Varun Aaron is the nw batsman.
OUT! 2 in 2 for Boult! SA Abbott c Sharma b Boult 14 (9b 1×4 1×6)
It’s a tad short outside off, Abbott looks to slash but ends up mistiming it to covers. This is brilliant bowling from Boult.
Abu Nechim is the new batsman.
OUT! Boult gets a huge wicket. de Villiers departs. AB de Villiers c Dhawan b Boult 46 (28b 5×4 2×6)
It’s full outside off from round the wicket from Boult. de Villiers goes for a wild swing but ends up slicing it to deep point where Dhawan makes no mistake this time. ABD misses out on his 50.
Harshal Patel is the new batsman.
After 18 overs, RCB 148/5
RCB turning it on now. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is brought back, he bowls five good balls but then delivers a full toss the last ball and de Villiers cracks it through covers for a boundary. Abbott then gets into the act and smashes a low full toss over long leg for a maximum and then jams one through point for a boundary. 24 runs off the last two overs.
After 16 overs, RCB 125/5
Karn bowls another superb over and concedes just 4 runs. He finishes with figures of 4-0-20-1. Ashish Reddy is brought into the attack and de Villier hammers him over long leg for a six. But then Reddy hits back to remove Sammy. 15 runs and a wicket in the last two overs.
OUT! Reddy removes Sammy! D Sammy b Ashish Reddy 6 (9b 0x4 0x6)
It’s full on off, Sammy stays in his crease and looks to go downtown but misses it completely. The ball knocks down the off stump.
Sean Abbott is the new batsman.
Is that a bird ?
— Aditya (@forwardshortleg) April 13, 2015
Is that a plane ?
No, it's a flying @davidwarner31. #RCBvSRH #IPL pic.twitter.com/1AQ8nJ00Ul
After 14 overs, RCB 110/4
Karn bowls another frugal over and concedes just four runs. De Villiers then looks to attack and scoops Bopara over fine leg for a four and then hammers a pull to long on where Dhawan pouches the catch but the momentum takes him behind the ropes. 17 runs off the last 2 overs.
RCB batsmen are getting out to Bopara to see his expressions. #RCBvSRH
— VB (@i_Psycho) April 13, 2015
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