In a sensational turn of events, the Bengaluru team, languishing at the bottom of the points table, secured a remarkable victory against a formidable Hyderabad squad. In the 41st league match of the IPL 2024 T20 cricket series, held in Hyderabad on April 25th, Bengaluru won the toss and elected to bat first.
The match began with a promising opening partnership of 48 runs, led by captain du Blais, who was eventually dismissed for a brisk 25 off 12 balls by Natarajan. However, Virat Kohli held the innings together with a composed knock, scoring 51 off 43 balls. Rajat Patidar played aggressively, smashing 50 off just 20 deliveries, supported by Cameron Green, who added 37 runs off 20 balls. Despite losing a few quick wickets towards the end, Bengaluru managed to post a challenging total of 206/7 in their 20 overs.
Hyderabad chase got off to a disastrous start as they lost Travis Head for just 1 run in the very first over bowled by Will Jakes. The middle order collapse saw Abhishek Sharma, Yash Dayal, Aidan Markham, and Heinrich Klaasen departing cheaply, leaving Hyderabad struggling at 69/5. Though Sabash Ahmed fought hard with an unbeaten 40 off 37 balls, the Bengaluru bowlers, led by Karan Sharma, Cameron Green, and Swapnil Singh, kept the pressure on, restricting Hyderabad to 171/8 in their 20 overs.
This victory not only ended Bengaluru 30-day winless streak but also marked their second win of the season. It was a significant win for Bengaluru, who had suffered six consecutive defeats since their last victory against Punjab on March 25th.
What made this win even more special was the fact that Bengaluru managed to defeat Hyderabad for the first time on their home soil. Hyderabad, known for defeating strong teams like Mumbai and Chennai, was handed a convincing defeat by Bangalore, silencing their critics and proving their mettle.
With this victory, Bengaluru has not only redeemed themselves but has also made a strong statement in the IPL 2024 T20 cricket series. It’s a victory that will be remembered by their fans for a long time to come.