In the 48th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, Punjab Kings (PBKS) defeated Gujarat Titans (GT) by eight wickets at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai.
After winning the toss, Hardik Pandya asked PBKS to bowl first. Punjab Kings got what they wanted from the toss and it showed as well in the first inning as PBKS managed to confine GT to a below-par score. Kagiso Rabada who finally got to bowl in the death overs showcased his topmost potential and along with him, Sandeep Sharma was also highly effective. Arshdeep Singh and Rishi Dhawan also were clear with their line and length, which helped PBKS to restrict GT to just 143/8.
The Punjab-based team made a change in their opening pair and promoted Jonny Bairstow who once again failed to mark his presence in this year’s edition. Shikhar Dhawan (62*) on the other end, scored an unbeaten half-century and smashed eight fours and one six to take PBKS home convincingly. Bhanuka Rajapaksa (40) further continued the chase with five fours and one six. The southpaw looked all set to finish the game but unfortunately got dismissed in the 12th over. In the end, Liam Livingstone (30) came and hammered two fours and three six that too at a strike rate of 300 to win this game in the sixteenth over itself. In the process, Livingstone smacked a 117 meter six which happened to be the biggest one yet of this season. Such brutal strikes made GT look too weak in the bowling department. PBKS won this game against GT as they chased down the target of 144.
In the first innings, the batsmen didn’t turn up for Gujarat Titans to score some big runs at the slow damp wicket at the D.Y Patil Stadium. The pitch needed a batsman to begin slow and then take it forward but the process didn’t work out well for the Gujarat-based team. The opener Wriddhiman Saha (21) started off well but got out pretty soon. Youngster Sai Sudharsan (65*) was the only talking point of the first inning as he scored his career’s first fifty. Sudharsan hit five fours and one six to take GT to a respectable yet below-par total of just 143/8 in 20 overs.
Rabada was fierce with the ball in the first inning as he plucked five wickets in his quota of four overs. The change of plans did work for the South African pacer as he got three wickets towards the end of the first inning. The ball was gripping and hence it was helpful to Arshdeep and Rishi Dhawan also who got a wicket each. Along with them, Liam Livingstone also managed to get one wicket.
For GT, Mohammad Shami and Lockie Ferguson got one wicket each and were helpless as no other bowler managed to get anything out of that pitch.
Rabada was adjudged Man of the Match for his bowling figures. Following this win, Punjab Kings are still alive in the competition as they have now 10 points on the table.
Scorecard:
Gujarat Titans: 143/8, Overs 20, Sai Sudharsan 65*, Kagiso Rabada 4/33
Punjab Kings: 145/2, Overs 16, Shikhar Dhawan 62*, Lockie Ferguson 1/29