IPL 6: Super White gives Sunrisers Super Over victory

Result: Match tied – Sunrisers win in Super Over

Cameron White bludgeoned Vinay Kumar for two sixes in the one-over eliminator, after the bowler began with a high full toss that was called a no-ball and gave the home side an extra delivery. That allowed the home side to post 20 for no loss and though Chris Gayle hit Dale Steyn for six off the penultimate ball of the match, it was beyond even Gayle to hit the last ball for six and tie the match for a second time. He could only manage a single and the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad invaded the field in celebration.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: 130/8 (Kohli 46, Henriques 44, Ishant 3-27)

Chris Gayle had a rare failure in the group stage, caught behind for one off Hanuma Vihari’s first ball in the IPL, as RCB struggled to post 130 on a pitch that was difficult for shot making. Virat Kohli and Moises Henriques were the only two RCB batsman to manage double figures – Kohli keeping the first half of the innings going while Henriques managed the second half. That their strike-rates were 104.54 and 110 respectively illustrates how difficult it was to score quick runs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium for the second match in a row.

The Sunrisers bowlers once again turned in a good shift, with Ishant Sharma producing a gem to peg back Tillakaratne Dilshan’s offstump and Amit Mishra confusing the batsmen in in the course of taking 1 for 15 from his four overs. Ishant picked up two more wickets in the final over to finish as the best bowler for the home side.

Sunrisers Hyderabad: 130/7 (Vihari 44*, Henriques 2-14)

The home side made heavy weather of a small chase – though they showed RCB what was possible by defending 127 just two days ago – and looked like the game had slipped from their grasp when they slid to 101-6 after 16.1 overs. However, Ashish Reddy plundered Vinay Kumar for 14 runs in the 18th over to swing the advantage Sunrisers’ way again.

With seven needed from the final over, Sunrisers were the favourites but Vinay Kumar, who kept Mumbai Indians from scoring the 10 runs they needed in the final over in RCB’s last game, once again produced under pressure. A full toss accounted for Reddy and with a mix of yorkers and slower deliveries, left Sunrisers needing two from the final delivery. Steyn swung and missed at another slower ball but the batsman were able to dash across for a single and set up the one-over eliminator.

Hanuma Vihari held the innings together, patiently crafting his way to 44 from 46 balls as more experienced heads came and went around him. The most amazing statistic of his inning is that it contained just two fours, showing he kept a cool head to make sure he was there until the end. His knock, and the wicket of Gayle, led to him being named the Man of the Match.

Turning Point

Vinay Kumar had done brilliantly in the 20th over to keep Sunrisers from winning outright but the third time was not the charm for him. Cameron White heaved him for two sixes, one over long-on and the other over long-off, to leave Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli needing 21 from a Dale Steyn over. It was a task beyond even Gayle as Sunrisers moved to the top of the points table.

Toss: Royal Challengers won and chose to bat