SRH's Basil Thampi records most expensive spell in IPL history

Basil Thampi's return to SRH's playing XI against RCB proved to be nightmarish as he conceded 70 runs in his four overs without a wicket, most expensive figures in the history of the IPL.

Thampi, who had replaced Bhuvneshwar Kumar ahead of the encounter, conceded 19, 18, 14, 19 in his four overs and overtook Ishant Sharma's previous most expensive spell of 0/66 in 2013.

Umesh Yadav (0/65), Sandeep Sharma (1/65) and Varun Aaron (2/63) were the next in the list. 

Thanks largely to Thampi's bad day at the office RCB posted a mammoth 218/6, in the chase of which SRH fell short by 14 runs. 

Talking about the RCB innings, Moeen Ali at last proved his worth with a timely innings.

After the departure of Parthiv Patel and Virat Kohli, Moeen joined AB de Villiers at the crease and batted with such conviction from the word go that the South African - after a nervous start - appeared all of a sudden at ease at the other end: he knew he had a partner who was there to stay and share the scoring responsibility with him. 

Both batsmen added 107 runs off 57 balls for the third wicket to bring RCB back into the game, with Moeen dominating the stand with 61. SRH needed a Rashid Khan special in the 15th over to see the backs of both the batsmen but by then, they had done their job.

Moeen made his first IPL fifty and hit two fours and six sixes during the course of his 65 off 34 balls. De Villiers, meanwhile, made 69 off 39 balls with the help of 12 fours and six. He was the first to fall in the Rashid over. 

Both innings were important for RCB but it wouldn't be wrong to say that it was largely Moeen's effort that blew over the clouds of apprehension.

Striking while the iron was hot, Colin de Grandhomme provided a late flourish with a 17-ball 40 as Kohli's men stormed to an intimidating total, this season's third highest after KKR's 245 and DD's 219.