IPL 2018, SRH vs RCB: Twitter erupts as SRH defend a low total for the fourth time by surviving de Grandhomme's onslaught

Rashid Khan celebrates the wicket of AB de Villiers (Source: BCCI)

The Royal Challengers Bangalore were facing the table toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad in a very important fixture as the Bangalore side were facing stiff competition to qualify for playoffs in the bottom half of the points table. Luck favored Virat Kohli as he has won the toss and put in SRH to bat first.

RCB got the right start as they picked up two wickets in the power play for just 38 runs. In the ninth over, they also got the wicket of Manish Pandey who has been struggling to find some form.

After that wicket, it was a Williamson show as he scored his fifth half-century of the tournament and put on a 64 run partnership with Shakib, before getting out off the last ball of sixteenth over.

After Williamson's wicket, SRH lost wickets on a regular basis and were bowled out for 146 in 20 overs. Mohammad Siraj, who was playing against his previous side, was the pick of the bowlers as he took three wickets for just 25 runs.

Parthiv Patel provided a quick start to the chase with a 13-ball 20 but got out in the third over. Virat Kohli, who came in next, looked in sublime touch as he started to score runs at a brisk pace but RCB were unfortunate to lose the wicket of Manan Vohra as he dragged back one onto the stumps.

In came Rashid and the things changed for RCB as both Kohli and AB de Villiers were trouble by the Afghan-legspinner. Kohli was given a reprieve by Williamson at slips off Rashid's bowling but got out in the next over off Shakib's bowling.

ABD followed Kohli back into the dugout as he bowled by Rashid Khan in the very next over.

RCB lost Moeen Ali soon and looked to be in trouble before Colin de Grandhomme hit two sixes off Rashid's bowling in the seventeenth over and brought back the game into balance as RCB needed 25 off last 3 overs.

But, thanks to some excellent death bowling by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Siddarth Kaul, SRH managed to win the match by 5 runs. With this win, SRH almost makes it to playoffs with eight wins in ten matches.

Here are the reactions to the thrilling match:

A huge shout out to the think tank that sat down and hand picked this champion bowling line up @VVSLaxman281 @TomMoodyCricket and Murali. They are reaping the benefits as a result of that now. 5 wins in a row for the @SunRisers #SRHvRCB
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) May 7, 2018

How do they do it? @SunRisers so impressive. Great leadership, great coaching staff & exceptional bowling unit. 👏🏽👏🏽 #SRHvRCB #VIVOIPL2018
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) May 7, 2018

SRH have batted first 4 times this IPL and defended their score all the 4 times.

118 v MI
132 v KXIP
151 v RR
146 v RCB

Shows how they're the best bowling side! #SRHvRCB
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) May 7, 2018

What Dhoni is to finishing with the bat, Bhuvi is to finishing with the ball. Cool, calm, composed.. SRH are quite the ‘Defend’ing champions #SRHvRCB #Orangearmy
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) May 7, 2018

#SRH can defend the indefensible 🙏🙌 take a bow 🙇‍♂️ and how smart is Kane’s captaincy!!! #SRHvRCB #IPL #ApnaTukkaBhiLaga 🤗
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 7, 2018

Jon Snow and the night watch should take tips from SRH and Kane Williamson on How to Defend the wall...!!
#SRHvRCB #IPL18
— Abhijeet Pareek (@robinpareek) May 7, 2018

Sid Kaul bowled the tougher overs tonight....17-19th overs are tougher while defending. Super execution of quality skills under pressure. #SRHvRCB #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 7, 2018

Forget the Avengers!! #SRH bowlers can defend anything #SRHvRCB
— Srinjoy Roy (@RoySrinjoy) May 7, 2018

#SRHvRCB. #KaneWilliamson. Leading from the front with the bat and in leadership too. Well supported by his team members
— VINOD KAMBLI (@vinodkambli349) May 7, 2018

SRH can defend anything 😛😝#SRHvRCB pic.twitter.com/G9zPIt1eVb
— Shubh Yadav (@sy2998x) May 7, 2018

Hahaha RCB!! SUNRISERS RISING AGAIN after scoring a considerably low total. What a match this was, and that last ball from Bhuvi takes it away.

SRH through to the playoffs :D #SRHvRCB
— Chetan Bhawani (@chetanbhawani) May 7, 2018

Bhuvneshwar Kumar proved why he's called one of the best death bowlers.#srhvrcb
— BADSHAH KHAN (@baazigar_live) May 7, 2018

SRH Knocked out RCB in
2015 in group stages
2016 in Finals
2018 (well almost)#SRHvRCB
— Ahmed Siddiqui (@ahmedmsd) May 7, 2018

RCB fans waiting for their team to win IPL since 2008. #SRHvRCB pic.twitter.com/tUxPi8My5f
— Ananth (@Imanantht) May 7, 2018

This was not a classic SRH defence. Make no mistake. The other teams SRH successfully defended against didn't need just 25 off last 3 overs with Rashid bowled out. This was in RCB's pocket when the 18th over started. They TOTALLY BOTTLED it. #SRHvRCB
— Abhishek (@Sajjanlaunda) May 7, 2018

I never saw, I don't remember Virat Kohli meeting Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji anywhere before IPL. But I'm not able to digest the fact; from whom RCB learnt to loose so consistently ..It's just unbelievable !#SRHvRCB #RCBvSRH
— Shakher Gupta (@ShakherGupta) May 7, 2018

Sunrisers Hyderabad Beat Royal Challengers Bangalore By 5 Runs. This Time They Can't Even Blame Their Bowlers. #SRHvRCB #SRHvsRCB
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) May 7, 2018

Last 4 Man Of The Matches for #SRH:
KANE WILLIAMSON
RASHID KHAN
KANE WILLIAMSON
RASHID KHAN#SRHvRCB
— Abhay3 (@ImAbhay3) May 7, 2018

Things going exactly the way Mumbai wants

Battle for 4th spot intensifying between MI and KKR #SRHvRCB #RCBvSRH #IPL2018 #MIvKKR #MumbaiIndians @mipaltan @KKRiders
— Parth Thakkar (@thakkar_partha) May 7, 2018

Dhawan and Pandey are supposed to be the pillars of SRH batting line up. What are they doing ffs #SRHvRCB
— Rajat Arora (@EdinAzzaa) May 7, 2018

I love Kane Williamson's batting style. He takes his own time to time the ball well. Treat to the eyes.#SRHvRCB
— Jaanvi 🏏 (@ThatCricketBuff) May 7, 2018

Manish pandey disappoints me more than I disappoint my parents#SRHvRCB
— Adam Levine (@papakaka619) May 7, 2018

Simon: "How do you get Kane Williamson out?"
Daniel Vettori: "We just get the other end. I don't know how to get Kane out. Get the other batsmen and just let him do what he wants. "
If there ever was an honest answer. #SRHvRCB #IPL2018
— Nikhil Deshpande (@Chaseeism) May 7, 2018

"SRH captain" and "Consistency" should be declared as synonyms. Then Warner, now Williamson🙏#SRHvRCB
— Naseer (@BeingYuvNaseer) May 7, 2018

Kane Williamson in such great batting form in #IPL2018 and to think he may not have played for #SRH this season, if David Warner had been available.#SRHvRCB#IPL
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) May 7, 2018

#SRH ke batsman

"Koi na... bowlers bacha lega"

Me the day before exam

"Aage jo baithega woh bacha lega"#SRHvRCB
— 👁 (@seven_bound) May 7, 2018

I know @SunRisers have defended low totals 2 times. But that doesn't mean you should put it to the test every time. @IPL #SRH #SRHvRCB
— Himanshu Masurkar (@MasurkarH) May 7, 2018

Don't overhype our bowlers already.. It's just the Hyderabad's bowling friendly conditions!! #SRHvRCB
— Devvrat Unadkat (@DevvratUnadkat) May 7, 2018

If You Can Deceive And Dismiss A Batsman Like AB de Villiers Like That, You Deserve To Be The World No. 1 Bowler. What A Beauty By Rashid Khan. #OrangeArmy #SRHvRCB #SRHvsRCB pic.twitter.com/0WE27Jy6lh
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) May 7, 2018

Siraj in the death overs is turning out to be the find of the tournament....loving his control while working up serious pace. Brilliant. #SRHvRCB #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 7, 2018

#SRHvRCB

12 ball 18 run needed but batsman feel this against srh bowling..... pic.twitter.com/lbD2mFekV5
— Sagar Bobade (@Bsagar1010) May 7, 2018

RCB new slogan- Played and Bowled. (#PlayBold)#SRHvRCB #srhvrcb
— Praneet (@praneet_18) May 7, 2018

@RCBTweets It toughest job to be a RCB fan in this world. Supporting you'll from 8 years old, turned 19 now, When will we get to that cup? #Dissappointment #SRHvRCB #RCB #IPL2018 #FanDenial
— Simran Lobo (@Simi_Mathers7) May 7, 2018

#RCB fans when someone chants "Ee Sala Cup Namdhe" #SRHvRCB #ipl2018 pic.twitter.com/yrnTwbt116
— Kamran Ashar (@Im_Ashar10) May 7, 2018

SRH beat RCB by 5 Runs..#SRHvRCB #IPL2018 pic.twitter.com/3QPeZEjKdf
— RVCJ Media (@RVCJ_FB) May 7, 2018

Rcb fans situation right now #SRHvRCB #RCB #RCBvSRH #IPL2018 #viratkholi pic.twitter.com/MkPbnAGcxu
— மகிழ்ச்சி 🎥🏂🎶🚴🚦 (@SatuPaian) May 7, 2018

Doesn't matter win or loose always supporting @RCBTweets @imVkohli .
He will win it for us. Have faith and just bear this pain for few more years. 🤞 #SRHvRCB pic.twitter.com/G2Q1xatciq
— sourav (@ideep902) May 7, 2018

Win or Lose

We love you always ❤ @imVkohli #srhvrcb pic.twitter.com/LdmuHCP7JC
— ʀcв ᴅɪɴᴜᴜ™ (@Dinu_offcl) May 7, 2018

Hat's of Rcb fans#SRHvRCB #IPL2018 pic.twitter.com/GvBILmRkm8
— Mr. Khiladi🇮🇳 ✌(KXIP)✌ (@Akki_Rajput1) May 7, 2018