All-round show by Titans in easy victory over MI

A superb assault in the slog overs by Abhinav Manohar, David Miller and Rahul Tewatia helped Gujarat Titans crush Mumbai Indians by 55 runs on Tuesday and join Chennai Super Kings at the top of the IPL table with 10 points. After posting their highest total of 207/5 at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, the defending champions restricted MI to 152/9. Titans’ Afghanistan spin duo of Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad were the pick of their bowlers, sharing five wickets to reduce Mumbai to 93/6 and end the game as a contest by the 13th over.

But the deciding factor was how well Titans accelerated in the last 24 balls. From 137/4 in 16 overs, Manohar, Miller and Tewatia combined to add 70 runs in the last four overs, leaving MI a mountain to climb for victory.

Miller smashed 46 off 22 balls, Tewatia came in the end and chipped in with 20 not out off five balls (3x6). While Miller and Tewatia are specialists in the role, it was Manohar who proved the surprise package. Last season, the 28-year-old from Karnataka had announced his arrival with a 28-ball 43 versus Rajasthan Royals. On Tuesday, he provided further proof of his ability to demolish attacks with a 21-ball 42 (3x4, 3x6). He was the dominant partner in a 71-run (35 balls) association with Miller for the fifth wicket -- left-hander Miller contributing only 28 runs in it. The way he targetted Mumbai’s seasoned legspinner Piyush Chawla made for impressive watching. The stocky bowler was superb in his first three overs. Manohar was the only one to come out and dominate, smashing the leg-spinner for two fours and a six in his last over, the 15th of the innings, to give GT momentum before the slog overs.