A fine half-century from Shubman Gill and brilliant finishing from Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan helped Gujarat Titans (GT) secure a thrilling three-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match in Jaipur on Wednesday . GT are now sixth in the rankings, with three wins and three losses, giving them six points. RR have suffered their first defeat after four wins, and with eight points they still top the table.
Chasing 197, Gujarat Titans openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudarshan started cautiously and did not score many fours and sixes.
At the end of six overs of the powerplay, GT were 44/0, with Sai (21*) and Gill (23*) unbeaten at the crease. In Avesh Khan's final powerplay, GT scored 14 runs, including a four and a six from Gill.
GT reached the 50-run mark in 6.5 overs.
The 64-run partnership between Gill and Sai ended when pacer Kuldip Sen trapped him for 35 in 29 balls, with three fours and a six. GT was 64/1 in 8.2 overs.
At mid-innings GT were 76/1, with Gill (36*) joined by Matthew Wade (4*). The match was interrupted due to rain.
After the rain, Rajasthan made a comeback in the match as Kuldip continued his brilliant spell. He cast both Matthew Wade (4) and Abhinav Manohar (1) in the 11th over, reducing GT to 79/3 in 10.4 overs.
Vijay Shankar, the out-of-form all-rounder, joined Gill in the middle and took the team to the 100-run mark in 12.4 overs.
Gill reached his fifty in 35 balls, with two fours and two sixes.
Just when it looked like the duo had built a partnership and were going to attack, Yuzvendra Chahal cleared Shankar for 16 in 10 balls. GT was 111/4 in 14 overs.
After Vijay's dismissal, Gill targeted RR's spin duo Ravichandran Ashwin and Chahal, hitting two fours each. However, he was stunned by Sanju Samson and Chahal had the last laugh. Gill made 72 in 44 balls, with six fours and two sixes.
GT was 133/5 in 15.2 overs needing 64 in 28 balls.
Shahrukh Khan and Rahul Tewatia, two hard hitters, were the new pair at the crease. They collected 17 runs in the 17th over, with a four from Tewatia and a four and six from Shahrukh. The equation came down to 42 runs required in 18 balls.
However, their brief partnership ended when Shahrukh was trapped leg-for-wicket for 14 by Avesh Khan. GT was 157/6 in 17.3 overs. The 2022 champions ended the 18th over with 35 runs needed in two overs.
Kuldeep's penultimate over was costly as Rahul and Rashid hit him for three fours and he gave away some extra runs due to wide/no balls. It brought the equation down to 15 in six balls.
Avesh's final over started with a boundary from Rashid, then a double and then another four, reducing the deficit to five runs in three balls. On the penultimate ball, while trying to make a third run, Tewatia was bowled out for 22 in 11 balls, with three fours. Two runs were needed on the last ball. GT was 195/7 in 19.5 overs.
Rashid hit a boundary off the last ball and won the match for his side by three wickets. He finished on 24* in 11 balls, with four boundaries.
Kuldip (3/41) and Chahal (2/43) were the pick of the bowlers for GT.
Earlier, Riyan Parag and Sanju Samson's blistering partnership of Rajasthan Royals (RR) put 130 runs to 196/3 against Gujarat Titans in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Wednesday.
Parag top-scored for RR with his superb 76 off 48, while captain Samson played a crucial unbeaten knock of 68 in 38 deliveries.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler went first and kicked off proceedings for RR. Jaiswal finally found his rhythm as he took on the GT bowlers, hitting boundaries with every over to give RR a sensational start.
Umesh Yadav drew first blood when he got the dangerous opener Jaiswal for 24 runs in the 5th over of the match. Captain Sanju Samson then came to bat and opened his count with back-to-back boundaries.
Shubman Gill introduced Rashid Khan in the powerplay and the Afghan player wove his magic to remove Jos Buttler after 8 runs. Samson and Riyan Parag steadied RR's ship with their stand after Rajasthan suffered an early shock with the wickets of Jaiswal and Buttler.
Parag and Samson once again came to RR's rescue after the top-order failure as the duo completed a stand of over 50 runs in 39 deliveries.
With a thumping maximum, Parag brought up his half-century in 34 balls. Spencer Johnson was at the receiving end as he was hammered by Samson for 16 runs with the help of two boundaries and one maximum.
Parag and Samson completed a 100-run partnership as they stayed strong for RR. Samson smashed his third fifty of the season.
Vijay Shankar took a brilliant catch on the boundary to dismiss Parag for 76 runs after Mohit's delivery. In the last over, Shimron Hetmyer hit two maximums, taking his team's total to 196/3 in 20 overs.
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