In the 16th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, Gujarat Titans (GT) won the high scoring last-ball thriller by six wickets against Punjab Kings (PBKS). Clinical performances from Shubman Gill (96), Rahul Tewatia (13*) and Hardik Pandya (27) helped the new IPL team to claim two more points.
Gujarat Titans won the toss and opted to field first. A moderate bowling performance allowed Punjab Kings to set up a competitive target of 189.
The Gujarat-based team had a great start to an intriguing run chase with Gill taking on the bowlers in the powerplay. After losing the wicket of Mathew Wade, GT managed to post a total of 53 runs in the powerplay. The foundation for the chase was laid by Gill and the debutant Sai Sudharsan. The two batsmen had a 101-run partnership for the second wicket. The threatening partnership was broken by Rahul Chahar when Sudharsan was caught in the circle in the 15th over. Gill carried his form from the previous game and kept hitting boundaries at regular intervals to maintain the run rate. After taking a few balls to settle at the crease, the number four batsman, Pandya started hitting boundaries. The GT skipper took the charge as the well-settled opener found it difficult to score boundaries in the death overs. The 22-year-old fell short of his maiden century by just four runs when he hit the ball with the toe-end to just deposit it in the safe hands of the PBKS skipper at the extra cover. With 19 needed off the last six, Pandya was run out by Jonny Bairstow on the first delivery of the over. After scoring six runs off the next three deliveries, the Sanjiv Goenka-owned franchise needed 12 off the last two balls. Tewatia, who just faced one ball so far, was at the crease, he hit the full-length ball in the slot to a six at deep mid-wicket on the penultimate delivery. With a maximum needed off the last delivery, the southpaw shuffled across and launched the ball into the long-on region for a massive six. The Gujarat team and fans were hysterical following an exuberant finish to the run chase.
Liam Livingstone (64) was the star with the bat for PBKS. Vital contributions from Shikhar Dhawan (35) and Chahar (22) guided the franchise to set up a good target.Â
Rashid Khan was the pick among the bowlers for GT as he pocketed three wickets. Darshan Nalkande pocketed two wickets while Mohammed Shami, Lockie Ferguson and Pandya had one scalp each. For PBKS, Kagiso Rabada had two wickets to his name while Chahar gathered one wicket.
Following this game, GT have acquired the second spot with six points while PBKS are at the sixth spot with four points. Gill was adjudged Man of the match for his 96 off 59 deliveries with 11 fours and one six.
Scorecard:
PBKS: 189/9, Overs 20, Liam Livingstone 64, Rashid Khan 3/22
GT: 190/4, Overs 20, Shubman Gill 96, Kagiso Rabada 2/35Â