Shashank’s swashbuckling knock helps PBKS pip GT in a humdinger
His brilliant unbeaten 61, complemented by Ashutosh and Jitesh’s efforts, shades Gill’s sublime knock that had propelled the host to 199
n last December’s IPL auction, Punjab Kings bought Shashank Singh under confusing circumstances. There were two Shashanks in the pool and for a fleeting moment, PBKS thought it had bought the wrong player, tried to take back the bid before accepting him as one of its own.
On Thursday at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the
I32yearold Chhattisgarh batter showed why it was a prudent decision. He scored a swashbuckling unbeaten 61 (29b, 6x4, 4x6) as PBKS chased down a 200run target against Gujarat Titans with three wickets and a ball to spare. Shashank was helped in no small measure by Impact Player Ashutosh Sharma (31, 17b, 3x4, 1x6) and Jitesh Sharma (16, 8b, 2x6).
GT didn’t aid itself as Umesh Yadav dropped Ashutosh at deep squareleg when he was on three.
Shashank, who came in at 70 for four, started by smashing Umesh for two fours and a six in the 11th over, before scooping Mohit Sharma over the ’keeper and lofting him over midoff.
It was in fact Mohit who kept GT in the hunt, conceding seven runs in the 15th over and six in the 17th.
Frenetic in final five
But with 62 needed from 30, Jitesh carted Rashid Khan for two maximums over longon and longoff; in the 18th over, Ashutosh hit Azmatullah Omarzai for three fours.
Eventually Mohit, too, wilted under pressure, conceding 18 in the penultimate over.
Seven runs were too little for Darshan Nalkande to defend.
Earlier, after being asked to bat, Shubman Gill was at his sublime best (89 n.o., 48b, 6x4, 4x6), and was assisted by B. Sai Sudharsan (33, 19b, 6x4) and Rahul Tewatia (23 n.o., 8b, 3x4, 1x6).
Slow approach
GT was initially hampered by slow approaches from Wriddhiman Saha (11, 13b) and Kane Williamson (26, 22b, 4x4), who replaced the injured David Miller.
But Sai Sudharsan produced a breezy knock, peppering the entire arc on the legside with fours.
When the lefthander fell at 122 in the 14th over, GT was on the ascendency.
Vijay Shankar sucked out some of the momentum (8, 10b) but Gill combined with Tewatia for a manic 35run partnership off just 14 deliveries.
The duo had seemingly knocked PBKS out, only for the away side to rise from the dead.
GUJARAT TITANS Wriddhiman Saha c Dhawan b Rabada 11 (13b, 2x4), Shubman Gill (not out) 89 (48b, 6x4, 4x6), Kane Williamson c Bairstow b Harpreet Brar 26 (22b, 4x4), B. Sai Sudharsan c Jitesh b Harshal 33 (19b, 6x4), Vijay Shankar c Harpreet Brar b Rabada 8 (10b), Rahul Tewatia (not out) 23 (8b, 3x4, 1x6); Extras (lb5, w4): 9; Total (for four wkts. in 20 overs): 199.
FALL OF WICKETS
129 (Saha, 2.6 overs), 269 (Williamson, 8.3), 3122 (Sai Sudharsan, 13.5), 4164 (Vijay Shankar, 17.4).
PUNJAB KINGS BOWLING Harpreet Brar 40331, Arshdeep 40330, Rabada 40442, Curran 20180, Harshal 40441, Raza 20220.
PUNJAB KINGS Shikhar Dhawan b Umesh 1 (2b), Jonny Bairstow b Noor 22 (13b, 4x4), Prabhsimran Singh c Mohit b Noor 35 (24b, 5x4, 1x6), Sam Curran c Williamson b Omarzai 5 (8b), Sikandar Raza c Saha b Mohit 15 (16b), Shashank Singh (not out) 61 (29b, 6x4, 4x6), Jitesh Sharma c Nalkande b Rashid 16 (8b, 2x6), Ashutosh Sharma (Impact Player in place of Arshdeep) c Rashid b Nalkande 31 (17b, 3x4, 1x6), Harpreet Brar (not out) 1 (2b); Extras (lb8, w5): 13; Total (for seven wkts. in 19.5 overs): 200.
FALL OF WICKETS
113 (Dhawan, 1.1), 248 (Bairstow, 5.1), 364 (Prabhsimran, 7.2), 470 (Curran, 8.4), 5111 (Raza, 12.2), 6150 (Jitesh, 15.3), 7193 (Ashutosh, 19.1).
TITANS BOWLING Omarzai 40411, Umesh 30351, Rashid 40401, Noor 40322, Mohit (Impact Player in place of Tewatia) Nalkande 0.5061.
Toss: PBKS; PoM: Shashank. PBKS won by three wickets with one ball to spare.
Kolkata Knight Riders’ 18yearold Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who scored an impressive 27ball 54 in his team’s 106run win over Delhi Capitals here on Wednesday, said that his practice translated into the innings he ended up playing.
“I think the way we’ve been practising for the past few weeks, that’s gotten me to playing at a good level. And that’s how it basically happened.
“I didn’t really have to think too much when I went to bat the way my coach Abhishek Nayar has made me practice. I just backed my instincts and I trusted that what I did at the nets was enough.
“He has made me face tough circumstances during practice, so I think nothing will feel that tough in a match. Lots and lots of practice. If I keep doing that during, then it will come off in a match,” he said in the postmatch press conference.
Speaking about Nayar’s influence on his batting, he said: “He has helped me in every way — the way I think about the game, the way I work towards the game, the things I eat and the way I train. He’s basically been my guru and my mentor in everything, and that’s my relationship with him. I have learnt a lot from him.”