"Third Man" A Match Review by Kannan
Eliminator : RCB vs SRH at Abhu Dhabi, 6th November 2020
Both the teams were coming into this match with mixed fortunes, RCB laid low with 5 losses in a row while SRH making a spectacular comback with 4 wins on a trot. The past performances doesn't matter as one of the team is going to be "eliminated".
The toss and the team changes:
SRH got the toss in favour and put RCB to bat first on what it looked like a tricky wicket to bat on. Interestingly, Saha, who was looking in ominous touch, was out and replaced by wicket keeper Goswami for the SRH. RCB was desperate for a win by ringing in three changes packing the side with spinners and bringing in Finch back.
Holders bag of tricks
The strange tactics of keeping himself to open the innings backfired as Kohli fell early glancing a lifting Holder's delivery to the keeper. Holder was on song and bowling beautifully with able support from the dependable Rashid and the ever improving Natarajan - RCB reduced to 62 for 4 in 10 overs, yet again depending so much on ABD to deliver.
Holder never allowed RCB to accelerate by scalping 3 wickets and setting the match beautifully in their favor.
Can ABD fire at the end giving a fighting total to defend?
RCB fans would be praying for yet another ABD special, as he has done in this season shifting to the top gear in the final overs. The lack of batting to follow and the nature of the pitch kept the superman quiet - He still produced a neat half century and waiting to explode in the death.
Natarajan nails De Villiers and restricts challengers to 131
Here comes Natarajan, the new found leader of the SRH pace attack with a big heart and superlative performaces at the death, and delivers a perfect unplayable Yorker in the 18th over to dismiss ABD - surely the Game changing moment of the match. Had AB survived to face 10 more balls, it would have been absolute carnage and RCB might have finished at 160, that was not to be. They could manage only a below par 131, still not an easy one on a knock out game
Siraj prizes out Warner, early wickets, SRH in trouble:
SRH were in a spot of bother at the 6th over at 43 for 2 with Siraj finding the rythm and swing, especially the wicket of Warner was the vital moment of the Power play.
Zampa, chahal spun a web around:
The pitch was assisting the spinners and the leggies Chahal and Zampa were difficult to get away in the middle overs keeping the asking rate up, though the super economical sundar had an off day. The match was evenly poised at the 12th over where SRH had accumulated just 67 runs for the loss of 4 wickets.
Calm, calculative Williamson and all round Holder steadies the Ship, keeps sun Risers hopes alive:
What a calculated innings from Williamson,one of the best players going on in world cricket with an astute cricketing brain, rotating the strike and hitting the boundaries when needed, producing a half century which mattered the most, and keeping calm till the end.Holder shine with both bat and ball, gave good support to Kane in the steady 5th wicket partnership. With 9 runs needed of the final over, Holder exploded with couple of boundaries to finish the match with 2 balls to spare, ending the "eh sala cum namade!" Campaign for the much improved RCB this season.
Kohli yet again unable to take his team to the finals whether it is RCB or Team India, a big thing missing in his otherwise impressive CV - Having said this, it was a fantastic season for the RCB by holding the top 3 spot throughout before losing steam at the later half.
"The sun rises in Hyderabad in style at the right time at the business end, one more win against DC on Sunday will take them to the finals"
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