IPL: Sunrisers all but seal RCB's fate with 5-run win

Hyderabad, May 8 (IANS) Sunrisers Hyderabad consolidated their stay atop the Indian Premier League (IPL) points table with yet another brilliant defence of a meagre total, that saw them pip struggling Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by five runs here at the

Earlier, the tourists rode on pace duo of Mohammed Siraj (3/25) and Tim Southee (3/30) and two impressive run-outs by skipper Kohli to restrict the hosts to a a below par 146.

Siraj accounted for the key wickets of opener Shikhar Dhawan (13), Yusuf Pathan (12) and Wriddhiman Saha (8) even as Southee started the proceedings with the wicket of the other opener Alex Hales (5) and came back to remove Shakib (35) and Sandeep Sharma (0), as the home side could manage just 41 runs losing seven wickets in the final five overs.

Put in to bat, Hyderabad skipper Kane Williamson (56 off 39 balls) raged a lone battle with a defiant half century, despite losing his partners at regular intervals before Shakib joined him to forge a 64-run partnership for the fourth wicket and take the side past the 100-run mark.

With the innings progressing at a snail's pace, Williamson while trying to up the ante, perished off a Umesh Yadav delivery caught at the deep backward square leg boundary by Mandeep Singh.

The Hyderabad's skipper knock was decorated with five fours and couple of sixes.

Shakib too, followed his skipper to the dug out in the 18th over before Yusuf and Wriddhiman departed in quick succession off the penultimate over of the innings.The final over saw a couple of run-outs by Kohli and a wicket by Southee as the hosts were bundled out for 146.

Brief Scores: Sunrisers Hyderabad: 146 (Kane Williamson 56, Shakib Al Hasan 35; Mohammed Siraj 3/25) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 141/6 (Virat Kohli 39, Colin de Grandhomme 33, Mandeep Singh 21 not out; Shakib Al Hasan 2/36) by 5 runs.

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IANS