Sublime Gill leads from the front as Titans set Kings a demanding target
Home team skipper’s unbeaten 89, complemented by Sai Sudharsan and Tewatia’s knocks, revives the innings which flags in patches
ujarat Titans set Punjab Kings a challenging 200run target in their Indian Premier League match at the Narendra Modi Stadium here on Thursday.
Shubman Gill was at his sublime best, carrying his bat after scoring 89 splendid runs (48b, 6x4, 4x6),
Gand was assisted well by B. Sai Sudharsan (33, 19b, 6x4) and Rahul Tewatia (23 n.o., 8b, 3x4, 1x6).
Asked to bat, GT was initially hampered by slow approaches from Wriddhiman Saha (11, 13b) and Kane Williamson (26, 22b, 4x4).
The Kiwi, who replaced the injured David Miller in the lineup, played a few delectable cover drives but couldn’t really come up with the big shots.
Gill looked in fine touch at the other end, but some tight bowling from PBKS ensured that he would face just 10 deliveries in the PowerPlay.
GT collected 52 runs from the first six overs before Williamson was eventually dismissed, caught at backwardpoint trying to force the issue.
Getting a move on
But the arrival of Sai Sudharsan caused an uptick in scoring rate.
The 22yearold started with a late dab to the thirdman fence, and then bisected the longon and deep midwicket fielders not once but twice, legglanced and swept, and cleared the infield with ease.
Glorious six
Gill, not to be left behind, sent the pacy Kagiso Rabada straight down for a glorious six in the 13th over.
But Sai Sudharsan fell at the most inopportune time, edging an attempted uppercut off Harshal to wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma.
But having taken his side to 122 in the 14th over, he had laid the foundation for an endovers flourish.
Vijay Shankar, however, sucked out all the momentum that had built up (8, 10b) and it was again left to Gill to do the heavylifting.
And the skipper answered the call, flatbatting Harshal and Rabada for two sixes and a four across five balls.
Punjab Kings was 153 for six in 16 overs with Shashank (48) and Ashutosh (2) batting.
Dhawan (1), Bairstow (22), Prabhsimran (35), Curran (5), Raza (15) and Jitesh (16) were dismissed
Vijay Shankar’s exit with 14 balls left proved godsend as Tewatia did what he does best — swing freely on the legside.
Harshal bore the brunt, smashed as he was for a six and a four in the 19th over.
Finishing in style Arshdeep Singh bowled four excellent balls to start the 20th, but Tewatia clubbed backtoback fours off the last two deliveries to end things in style.