INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Chennai: Left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed (3/7) dispensed a match-winning efficiency after Glenn Maxwell's half-century to assist Royal
Oppositions Bangalore notch up a six-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League here on Wednesday.Put in to bat, RCB
managed 149 for 8 on the back of Maxwell's 41-ball 59 before Shahbaz changed the skin of the match by dismissing Manish Pandey (38 ), Jonny
Bairstow (12) and Abdul Samad (0) in one over, as SRH ended at 143 for nine in the stated 20 overs
The success propelled RCB to the top of the table.Chasing a modest total, SRH lost opener Wriddhiman Saha (1) cheaply in the beginning of
Skipper David Warner (54) and Pandey looked to make short work of the chase, galloping towards the target with the Sunrisers needing 73 off
the last 10 overs.The duo looked in threatening touch, smashing borders every over to keep the rating board ticking till the 14the over when
the Australian, who hit seven fours and a 6, was dismissed off a Kyle Jamieson off-cutter
RCB acquired confidence after Warner's termination, their bowlers limiting the boundaries
With the pressure installing, Bairstow, Pandey and Samad tried to target Shahbaz but mistimed their shots to return to the pavilion in the
Vijay Shankar (3) and Jason Holder (4) too had a hard time
Rashid Khan injected some hope in the SRH camp smashing 18 off 9 balls before he was run out.Earlier, SRH bowlers, led by West Indian
all-rounder Jason Holder (3/30) and star spinner Rashid Khan (2/18), put up superlative show and picked up wickets at routine intervals.For
RCB, Maxwell was the leading scorer, striking 5 fours and 3 optimums with skipper Virat Kohli (33) Shahbaz Ahmed (14) and Kyle Jamieson (12)
offering important contributions.Put in to bat, RCB were off to a good start with Kohli and opener Devdutt Padikkal (11) striking a few
Sunrisers didn't have to wait long for their very first advancement as a back of the length delivery in the third over by Bhuvneshwar Kumar
(1/30) spelled the end of Padikkal, who had returned after recovering from Covid-19
Shahbaz was the beside depart after playing a fast cameo, leaving RCB at 47 for two.At the halfway mark, Maxwell raised the pace as the
big-hitting Australian smashed Shahbaz Nadeem (1/36) for 2 sixes and a four in the very first 3 balls of the 11th over, with Kohli joining
the party with a boundary.The two sewed a 44-run collaboration prior to Jason Holder eliminated the RCB skipper as wickets continued to fall
With AB de Villiers (1) in the middle, SRH captain David Warner introduced spin as soon as again, causing versatile leg-spinner Rashid, and
the relocation right away paid dividends
The dangerous South African slapped the ball straight to Warner at covers with the slow nature of the Chepauk track coming forward when
again.The Afghan spinner struck once again, eliminating Washinton Sundar (8 )
With Dan Christian likewise gone, Maxwell smashed three fours and a maximum in the last three overs.Former champions SRH lost their opening
match to Kolkata Knight Riders while RCB beat Mumbai Indians in the tournament opener
