Mumbai: Defeating the Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 37 runs, Gujarat Titans (GT) top notched the points table of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Hardik Pandya performed well in all the three departments. The Gujarat Titans’ skipper drove the team to a 37-run victory.
Gujarat Titans, were put in to bat first. James Neesham, replaced the injured Boult, conceded three fours in the first over against Mathew Wade. Kuldeep Sen found an outside edge of Vijay Shankar in the 3rd over. Hardik Pandya counter-attacked to hit three consecutive fours against Kuldeep. GT were 42/2 at the end of powerplay.
Riyan Parag dismissed Shubman Gill out to long-on. Skipper Hardik Pandya and Abhinav Manohar kept the runs ticking to keep GT at 87/3 at the end of 12 overs. Abhinav Manohar smacked a four and a six as Hardik carried the momentum with three fours to notch his half-century.
The 15th over provided 16 runs after Pandya hooked back-to-back sixes against Ashwin. Chahal brought an end to the partnership after Abhinav was caught by Ashwin for 43. David Miller provided the finishing touch to the innings, hammering 5 fours and one six. as Hardik remained unbeaten on 87 after the GT skipper creamed a four and six each in the last over to post GT at 192/4.
With 193 runs to chase, Jos Buttler announced his arrival in style and was dealing in boundaries after the right-handed batter scored 5 fours and a six in the first two overs. Yash Dayal scalped his maiden IPL wicket to get Devdutt Paddikal. Buttler continued the flow of boundaries smacking three fours and a six.
Ravi Ashwin was caught by Miller, who took a sharp catch inside the circle. Buttler reached his half-century off just 23 deliveries with a six but a slower yorker from Lockie Ferguson castled the right-handed batter’s stumps.
RR skipper Sanju Samson hit his first six but a bullet throw from Hardik Pandya brought an end to Samson’s stay at the crease. Rassie van der Dussen was caught behind for 6 off Dayal’s bowling.
Hetmyer struck a four and a six against Shami but the pacer found success in the same over after Hetmyer mistimed a delivery and was caught in the deep. Riyan Parag flicked the first delivery of the 16th over for six but was caught later in the deep off Ferguson’s bowling and RR required 55 from 24 deliveries. The GT skipper bowled the 18th over and took a catch off his own bowling to dismiss Neesham. RR required 40 runs of the final over. Dayal scalped his third wicket of the innings as RR fell 38 runs short of the target.
Brief Scores: Gujarat Titans 192-4 (Hardik Pandya 87*, Abhinav Manohar 43; Yuzvendra Chahal 1-32) beat Rajasthan Royals 155-9 (Jos Buttler 54, Shimron Hetmyer 29; Lockie Ferguson 3-23) by 37 runs.
