Sunrisers ride on Big Ben to lift title

Bengaluru - Warner's Hyderabad pull off eight-run win over Kohli's Challengers in IPL final

Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) bowlers prevailed over the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batting might to lift the Indian Premier League (IPL) title at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday.
Australian Ben Cutting (39 runs, 15 balls, three 4s, four 6s and 2 for 35) stole the march over much fancied stars among the finalists.
Hyderabad's well-paced innings after opting to bat first, proved vital in tilting the balance in their favour. And, they had a bowling attack, which was one of the best in the ninth season of the annual event, to defend their total of 208.
The RCB batting might initially threatened to take the game away from SRH but their captain cool David Warner (69 runs, 38 balls, eight 4s, three 6s) kept his faith in bowlers to deliver.
The RCB (Chirs) Gayle (76 runs, 38 balls, four 4s, eight 6s) force entertained the 'home crowd' for the first ten overs as Virat Kohli (54 runs, 35 balls, five 4s, two 6s) anchored the innings.
But Hyderabad bounced back by taking two crucial wickets in 14 balls to see the back of both the dangerous looking openers. And, it was Cutting, who inflicted the first blow.
After the 114-run opening wicket partnership, RCB had no significant partnership to keep the momentum going. They failed to pace their innings the way Hyderabad did.
Warner's boys played as a team throughout. They had smaller partnerships at the top but the 52-run onslaught by Cutting in the final three overs, especially 24 in the last over proved decisive in their title win.
"It was good to get out there and swing a few for the boys," elated Cutting said alter.
"It is an unbeliavle feeling. First to get a game and win it for the boys," added Cutting.
This was the first IPL title for Yuvraj Singh and he said: "We [I] had won the World Cup and now the IPL trophy. Great performance from the team. We came back strongly. Bhuvi and fizz, great finish in the end. As long as the trophy comes, I don't mind injuries, it is a great effort."
The Sunrisers mentor VVS Laxman praised WArner for his cool approach. "Under pressure when Gayle and Virat had the partnership he [Warner] was cool," he said.
"Captaining the way he did was fantastic. As Tom said, each one of us enjoy each other's company. There are no superstars in the Sunrisers camp. Everybody is an important member."