Match Center

Right then, that's it from the coverage of this game. The action in the 16th edition of the Indian T20 League will be coming thick and fast as we approach yet another weekend of the closing phase of the group stages. We have an enthralling encounter awaiting us on Friday 19th May as Punjab host Rajasthan at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. The first ball will be at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT), but you can join us early for the build-up. Until then, goodbye and cheers!

Virat Kohli is the Player of the Match for his remarkable century. He says that it was quite special especially because of where they are on the points table and the magnitude of the game. Feels that Hyderabad had a good score on the board as the ball was gripping in the middle. Mentions that Faf du Plessis has been on a different level for some time now but he had a few quiet games. Explains that the way he was striking the ball in the nets is not how he was playing out in the middle and knew that he had to pick up his game at the right time.Claims that he never looks at the numbers and says that people say he is not a good Indian T20 League player but this is his sixth hundred in the competition. Adds that he does not give himself enough credit but he does not at what people say. Informs that he does not try fancy shots as he has to play 12 months in a year and he does not like throwing his wicket away. Goes on to say that he tries to stay true to his techniques and they have a Test match coming up so he wants to give everything for himself and the team. Jokes that it is probably the tattoos that make him and Faf du Plessis close and they have almost 900 runs together this season. Tells that it is like the way it was when AB de Villiers and he batted together and they pump each other up as well as give feedback which helps as he is an experienced guy captaining at the highest level. Reckons that he is blessed and grateful for having the crowd support him and he told Faf that it felt like a home game for them. Adds that they were cheering for them and you cannot create this as it is not possible to force someone to follow you so just perform and be in a great position to be able to put a smile on people's faces. Ends by thanking the fans for their support.

Faf du Plessis, the skipper of Bangalore says that it was an amazing chase and adds that they felt that the wicket was very good to bat and 200 was probably a par score as the ball did not turn much for the spinners. Tells that they are playing well and from a batting perspective they were clinical. Tells that he and Virat Kohli complement each other very well as they play their shots in different areas so it is difficult for the bowlers. Mentions that they are good friends on and off the field. Tells that it is great to go back to the Chinnaswamy for their final match and the atmosphere will be amazing for another must-win game for them.

Time for the presentations...

Glenn Maxwell is up for a quick chat. He says that it has been a long time on the road for them and they knew that it going to be this way. Tells that Heinrich Klaasen’s knock was sensational and applauds the shots he played over covers in the Powerplay but adds that it also showed them that the wicket was good to bat on. He credits Mohammed Siraj and Wayne Parnell for the way they bowled and felt that they were probably one seamer short but applauded the guys for bowling well. States that Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis know what to do when they are chasing and they knew whom to attack. He mentions that it is a great time for them to go back to Bangalore for their final league game against table-toppers.

Aiden Markram, the captain of Hyderabad says that they batted pretty well and they probably could have got a few more runs out there in the Powerplay. Adds that Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis played well but felt that they still had a good total on the board. He appreciates the crowd as well for supporting them throughout the season. Mentions that they wanted to go away with a win and a smile and they hate losing but credits Bangalore for the way they played. Tells that they had a look at the guys in this game and he feels that it is also important going forward. Applauds Nitish Kumar Reddy for the way he bowled and felt that his figures don’t suggest the way he bowled. He signs off by praising Heinrich Klaasen for his brilliant century.

Time for some interviews...

Hyderabad would have been mighty pleased with their batting effort at the halfway stage as they posted a reasonable total courtesy of a century by Heinrich Klaasen. They would have expected their bowlers to do a job and defend this target but they failed as they have found it difficult to get a complete team effort. Michael Bracewell did the early damage with the ball taking two wickets in one over with Mohammed Siraj, Shahbaz Ahmed, and Harshal Patel chipping in with a wicket each. They did really well in the death overs to kill the momentum in the Hyderabad innings before Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis made a mockery of the run chase. Glenn Maxwell and Michael Bracewell added the finishing touch to their inning in the run chase.

Bangalore came out to bat with positive intent and were off to a rollicking start as Virat Kohli made his intentions clear with two cracking boundaries on the first two deliveries. Faf du Plessis played the role of an anchor initially but soon got into the act as the openers posted 64 runs in the Powerplay. They controlled the middle overs beautifully and did not allow the required rate to rise at any point in time. They both reached their half-centuries in the same over as they put on yet another 100-run stand. Virat picked up the scoring rate after reaching his fifty as they put on the highest partnership for any wicket in this edition of the Indian T20 League adding 172 runs together in 108 deliveries. The Indian superstar reached his sixth century in this competition equalling a certain Christopher Henry Gayle before losing his wicket.

Aiden Markram mentioned in the toss that his team's strength was their bowling but they did not have a good day in the office. They started on the back foot straight away and conceded far too many boundary deliveries in the first six overs. They lacked the cutting edge and were unable to get wickets early as the Bangalore openers took them to task. They eventually dismissed both the batters in the death overs with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and T Natarajan chipping in with a wicket each but they were well behind the game at that point. They will need to rework their plans and apply them in their last fixture so they have some direction to aim for ahead of the next season.

What a statement win this by Bangalore and it has been that man Virat Kohli who has stamped his authority on this game! How often do we see two centuries in one game? It has happened for the first time in the history of the Indian T20 League and this match was an absolute crowd-pleaser. Bangalore move up to fourth position with this comprehensive 8-wicket win and have a playoff spot in hand with one game left to play. Hyderabad have been unable to get a consolation win here and their competition seems to be going from bad to worse.

That's it! Bangalore win! A full toss on off. Bracewell drives it left of the mid off fielder. The fielder dives and half-stops it but the batters steal manage to take two and Bangalore win this game by 8 wickets!

WIDE! On a length and down the leg side. Bracewell tries to swipe it away but misses.

Dot to start! A very full delivery on middle. Bracewell skips down the track and drives it to mid off.

FOUR! This boundary will seal the deal for Bangalore! A low full toss on off. Maxwell plays that famous reverse-scoop of his and gets it in the gap past the short third man fielder for a boundary. 3 needed from the final over!

Another single! A low full toss on off. Bracewell drives it back past the bowler for a single.

A yorker on off. Maxwell goes deep in his crease and digs it out to deep point for a single.