The Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore locked horns against each other at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Thursday. The coin fell in RCB's favour and they opted to bowl first. SRH did not get off to the best of starts as they lost Abhishek Sharma caught off Mahipal Lomror by Michael Bracewell. Then Rahul Tripathi fell soon after scoring 15 off 12 balls with two fours and one six.
SRH were tottering at 28-2. Then, Henrich Klassen, SRH's best batter of IPL 2023 walked in. The South African absolutely butchered the RCB bowlers. He smashed them to all parts of the ground. It was an innings of very high class from Klassen. He played a tremendous knock off 104 off 51 balls with eight fours and six sixes. His innings took SRH to a competitive total.
Heinrich Klassen made 104 off 51 balls for Sunrisers Hyderabad
Harry Brook provided a great finish towards the end. The Englishmen made an unbeaten 27 off 19 balls with two fours and one six. These valuable runs ensured that SRH finish on 186-5 in their 20 overs. Michael Bracewell was RCB's best bowler as he picked up 2-13 in his short burst of two overs. Mohammed Siraj also bowled a brilliant four over spell and conceded just 17 runs. He also picked up the wicket of Glenn Philips.
In the second innings, the runs continued to be scored as Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis went into top gear, straightaway. The duo made an huge opening stand of 172 runs. Kohli came back into some form with a sizzling 100 off 63 balls with 12 fours and four sixes. Du Plessis made a cracking 71 off 46 balls with seven fours and two sixes.
The SRH bowling unit were put under pressure right from the word go. On a tough wicket, they put their heads down and scored the runs for their side. It was superb batting from Kohli. The RCB fans will be very happy. In the end, RCB won the match by 8 wickets but the Bold Army has got their task cut out against Gujarat Titans in the next game.
Let us take a look at the reactions on Twitter:
Once a King, Always a King 👑#ViratKohli𓃵 #RCBvsSRH
— K.Vijay💙 (@Thevijaykant) May 18, 2023
What a Class Innings
— Itz Abhishek (@1mflexin_) May 18, 2023
I have No words left for him
King Kohli 🔥🔥#ViratKohli𓃵 #RCBvsSRH
Right now my Mood :- RCB RCB RCB
— Shivani Jha (@Ca_shivani_jha) May 18, 2023
ओरी सखी मंगल गावो री,
धरती अम्बर सजाओ री,
उतरेगी आज मेरे @RCBTweets की सवारी,
हेरी कोई काजल लाओ री,
मोहे काला टीका लगाओ री,❤#IPL2023 #RCB #RCBvsSRH
Back to Back victories for #RCB
— VIRATIAN (@Karthik__vk18) May 18, 2023
RCB won by 8 wickets 🔥@imVkohli 100(63) sr 158.73@faf1307 71(47) sr 151.06
172 runs partnership by faf and kohli #ViratKohli #ViratKohli𓃵 #RCBvsSRH #RoyalChallengersBangalore #IPLPlayOffs #faf #Cricket #SRH pic.twitter.com/QxiBm6kp4F
Cup clean chesi pettandi#SRHvRCB #ViratKohli𓃵 #RCBvsSRH #RCB pic.twitter.com/h0lCJNjD3q
— Boring_bros (@Boring_bros) May 18, 2023
King Virat Kohli ji "the Chase master" #RCBvsSRH pic.twitter.com/QuvnOGT1le
— Pulkit (@PulkitK107) May 18, 2023
RCB is still alive in this tournamemt
— Rahul Agarwal (@_apkarahul) May 18, 2023
A century by kohli ❤❤
Kya bolti public.. Trophy bengaluru aayegi is baar? 🔥🔥#RCBvsSRH #ViratKohli #klassen #IPL2023 #IPLPlayOffs pic.twitter.com/2GlAnvq7kZ
5 Days silence for those who said Virat Kohli's career is over in T20..😂
— विराट कोहली (@VKianForever) May 18, 2023
Let's laugh on Haarcb spammers 😂
1 likes = 100 slaps to those who are praying for RCB to loose the match😂#RCBvsSRH #ViratKohli #KingKohli #Kohli pic.twitter.com/sd6Jrsp1Ar
Virat Kohli smiling, smiling at all the CSK and LSG fans 🤣#RCBvsSRH pic.twitter.com/5fjluiiaus
— Akshat (@AkshatOM10) May 18, 2023
The Man, The Myth, The Legend - King Virat Kohli#RCBvsSRH #RCBvSRH #IPL2023 #SRHvsRCB #ViratKohli𓃵 pic.twitter.com/eA9TgnkC5L
— Vishwajit Patil (@_VishwajitPatil) May 18, 2023