In their first IPL final, Sunrisers Hyderabad showed their intent early by opting to bat against Royal Challengers Bangalore at a venue where tall scores have been chased down nonchalantly. David Warner, their talismanic leader, walked the talk and top-scored with a 38-ball 69, before Ben Cutting lent the finishing touches with an unbeaten 15-ball 39 to help them post 208 for 7. Eventually, however, it was their bowling line-up, the best in the tournament, that delivered the maiden IPL title with an eight-run win over the hosts at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Royal Challengers had breached the 200-mark thrice previously at home this season and there was no reason why they could not do so again on Sunday, except the pressure of chasing in a final. Not for Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli, though, as the opening pair wiped 114 in 10.3 overs. Gayle alone contributed 76, with four fours and eight sixes. Sunrisers’ attack was under pressure early on, but they clinically applied the brakes after Gayle’s wicket.
Even without Royal Challengers’ famous top three, 47 off 24 balls was still within the realms of possibility. Shane Watson, Stuart Binny and Sachin Baby are capable of striking big, but they had to contend with