I was determined to make the opportunity count: Gurkeerat

The Challengers had a rather abysmal start to their run-chase. Bhuvneshwar Kumar nipped out Parthiv Patel for a golden duck in the first over itself. Khaleel Ahmed struck the body blow as he dismissed Virat Kohli, the RCB skipper, who already had struck two boundaries and one mighty six. RCB’s innings turned from bad to worse after AB de Villiers edged one off Bhuvneshwar and the hosts were reduced to 20/3 in 2.5 overs.

Thereafter, Shimron Hetmyer and Gurkeerat Singh Mann took charge and got RCB back into the match. Hetmyer, who strained in the first few games, notched a half-century in 32 deliveries. At the other end, Gurkeerat also accomplished his fifty off 39 balls. The duo brought up a century stand in 64 balls.

Gurkeerat Singh Maan went onto smash smash 65 off 48 balls while batting alongside Shimron Hetmyer to fire RCB to a four-wicket win over Sunrisers in there last game of the season.

"I think it is not pressure, it is about the opportunity. This year I played in the IPL after almost two years and I just wanted to deliver for my team and I did it," Mann told reporters at the post-match press conference here on Saturday.

He also said he was fortunate to get an opportunity to build an innings as he came out to bat in third over when RCB were reeling at 20 for three, chasing 176.

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"Whenever you go into bat, you have to prove yourself and do well for the team. Fortunately for me, I had many overs left, so I could build my innings. Usually what happens to the middle over batsmen is you don't get balls and you just have to hit out in the last three or four overs."

Asked how he and Hetmyer approached the chase after a poor start, Mann said his job was to anchor the innings and let the West Indian go after the bowlers.

Meanwhile, Sunrisers opener Martin Guptill said Kane Williamson, whose unbeaten 70 saw Hyderabad post a challenging 175 for seven, played very well.

"Last over he got rewards for his hard-fought innings," said Guptill.

Williamson hammered 20 runs off 28 balls scored in the last over by walloping two sixes and as many boundaries off Umesh Yadav. Guptill praised the partnership between Hetmyer and Mann, saying it took the game away from Sunrisers.

On lead spinner Rashid Khan's performance this year, Guptill said, "It is cricket, these things happens from time to time. However, he has bowled well for us, though he did not get as many wickets as he wanted to." Khan took 15 wickets in 14 games, averaging 24.13 with an economy rate of 6.46.

(With Inputs: PTI)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Royal Challengers Bangalore upstaged Hyderabad by four wickets. 
• Gurkeerat Singh Maan registered his second IPL fifty. 
• In the earlier season, Gurkeerat played for Kings XI Punjab.