Rahul Tewatia hit two sixes off the final two balls after Shubman Gill struck his highest IPL rating as Gujarat Titans beat Punjab Kings by six wickets on the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Friday.
Chasing 190 for a win, Gill was out within the nineteenth over after hitting 11 fours and a six, adopted by his captain Hardik Pandya (27) within the remaining over because the Titans wanted 12 runs from the final two balls.
Tewatia (13 not out off 3 balls), who has a status of hitting large sixes in crunch conditions, despatched the final two balls bowled by Odean Smith for maximums at hand the Titans their third win on the trot.
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The Punjab aspect made a superb comeback on the loss of life and so they have been on the verge of a victory solely to be denied by Tewatia in a dramatic trend.
Gill, who had hit 84 within the earlier match towards Delhi Capitals, was in imperious kind as he lower, drove and smacked the Punjab bowlers to carry one finish collectively. He shared 101 runs in 11.2 overs with debutant Sai Sudharsan (35 off 30 balls) to maintain the Titans on target within the run chase.
It was not a straightforward chase although because the Titans wanted greater than 11 runs an over after Sudharsan was out off Rahul Chahar (1/41) within the fifteenth over.
Arshdeep Singh (0/31) bowled brilliantly within the 18th over, freely giving simply 5 runs, leaving the Titans to attain 32 from the ultimate two overs.
In a tense end, Gill was out within the penultimate over after his captain had struck two fours off Kagiso Rabada (2/35).
The Titans wanted 19 from the ultimate over bowled by Smith (0/35) and 12 from the final two balls and Tewatia did the unthinkable.
Earlier, England all-rounder Liam Livingstone, this IPL’s costliest international participant, made full use of a fortunate reprieve to smash a second consecutive half century and assist Punjab Kings put up 189 for 9.
Livingstone, who was purchased for Rs 11.5 crore, smashed 64 off simply 27 balls to attain the majority of the runs for Punjab Kings after being requested to bat first.
He shared 52 runs for the third wicket with opener Shikhar Dhawan (35) to revive the Punjab innings after they have been 43 for two after the powerplay.
Livingstone, who had hit 60 off 32 balls towards Chennai Super Kings within the earlier match, survived by the pores and skin of his enamel within the ninth over, when he was on 14, as Titans captain Hardik Pandya’s foot touched the boundary ropes whereas attempting to take a excessive catch off spinner Rashid Khan (3/22).
The Englishman took full benefit of the ‘life’ given to him as he reached to his fifty off 21 balls. In the top, he struck seven fours and 4 sixes in his quickfire knock.
The potent Gujarat Titans bowling assault made a short comeback with debutant Darshan Nalkande (2/37) and the seasoned Rashid claiming wickets in fast succession.
Nalkande eliminated Jitesh Sharma (23) and Odean Smith (0) off consecutive balls within the 14th over, whereas the wily Rashid dismissed Livingstone and Shahrukh Khan (15) within the house of three balls within the sixteenth over, in addition to claiming the wicket of Dhawan earlier.
From 153 for five within the sixteenth over, Punjab have been decreased to 162 for 9 however Rahul Chahar and Arshdeep Singh stitched a helpful 27-run partnership for the unconquered final wicket to take their aspect to a stiff complete.
Earleir, captain Mayank Agarwal (5) was out cheaply for the third time whereas star England batter Jonny Bairstow’s debut match for Punjab Kings lasted eight balls for as many runs as each fell contained in the powerplay overs.
Brief Scores:
Punjab Kings 189 for 9 in 20 overs (Liam Livingstone 64, Shikhar Dhawan 35; Rashid Khan 3/22)
Gujarat Titans 190 for 4 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 96, Sai Sudarsan 35; Kagiso Rabada 2/35).
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