Pandya-inspired Titans survive Russell show

NAVI MUMBAI: Kolkata Knight Riders needed 18 runs off the last over against Gujarat Titans with the dangerous Andre Russell on strike. The Jamaican had already hit five sixes to bring KKR back into the match, having taken four wickets in the final over to peg back Gujarat Titans to a modest total. And big-hitter then put his team on the verge of victory when he deposited a Alzarri Joseph full toss over long on to bring the equation to 12 off five balls.

The next ball though Joseph bowled a sharp bouncer that crammed up Russell (48—25b, 1x4, 6x6), whose awkward hoick was caught brilliantly at fine leg by Lockie Ferguson. It wrapped up a brilliant bowling performance by Gujarat Titans as they won by eight runs at the DY Patil Stadium on Saturday.

Inspired by skipper Hardik Pandya’s 49-ball 67, his third fifty of this IPL, in a row, Titans bowlers made better use of the bounce in the pitch, taking wickets at regular intervals to keep KKR in check. They didn’t bowl many loose deliveries, not allowing KKR to breakaway.

Defending a total of just 156, GT were on the money from the first over with Mohammed Shami (2/20) dismissing openers Sam Billings (4) and Sunil Narine (5). Nitish Rana (2) then struggled against Ferguson’s pace and edged to keeper Saha.

KKR were down to 16/3 and were looking for some inspiration from skipper Shreyas Iyer (12—15b) but he too fell to a peach of a delivery from pacer Yash Dayal (2/42), angled across and which Iyer could only nick to Saha. Dayal also dismissed Rinku Singh (35—28b) to break his 45-run fifth wicket stand with Venkatesh Iyer (17—17b). Dayal almost removed Russell as well after having him caught with a perfect bouncer, but he had overstepped.