IPL 2024: The Titans’ struggling batting line-up would have been content with a 143-run target, but Punjab’s effective claw back due to poor shot selection made the chase more nerve-wracking than expected.
Rahul Tewatia’s resilient performance helped Gujarat Titans secure a three-wicket victory over Punjab Kings in a closely contested match featuring unstable top orders at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
The Titans’ batting line-up would have been content with a 143-run target, but their chances were jeopardized by poor shot selection, allowing Punjab to make a comeback and put pressure on the Shubman Gill-led side.
At the 16-over mark, the away team still required 38 runs to secure victory, with Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan, the last recognized batting duo, on the field. Tewatia narrowly escaped being given out lbw in the subsequent over, as he attempted a risky reverse-sweep off Harpreet Brar.
Showing confidence in his abilities, he executed the same shot two balls later, resulting in a boundary. This kickstarted a flurry of runs, with 27 coming off the next nine deliveries, including 20 runs off Kagiso Rabada’s 18th over.
Despite Harshal Patel providing some excitement for the crowd by taking two wickets in the 19th over with a yorker and a full toss, it wasn’t sufficient to prevent Punjab from suffering their fourth consecutive defeat at home.
Earlier in the match, Punjab found themselves in a familiar situation as Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma tried to stabilize the innings, with the team struggling at 86 for five.
Regrettably for the host, there was no chance of redemption on this occasion as both batters found themselves back in the dugout within three overs, deceived by the flight of left-arm spinner R. Sai Kishore.
With the innings in a precarious state at 99 for seven, the responsibility fell upon Impact Player Harpreet Singh Bhatia and No. 9 Harpreet Brar to salvage the situation and guide the host to a total of 142.
After choosing to bat first, Punjab’s opening batsmen failed to live up to expectations despite Sam Curran and Prabhsimran Singh forming the team’s second 50-run partnership of the season. However, they were soon out of the game.
Prabhsimran, Rilee Rossouw, Liam Livingstone, and Jitesh Sharma made hasty decisions, putting their team in a difficult position early on.
Sai Kishore, Noor Ahmad, and Rashid Khan collectively took seven wickets, outperforming the seam-friendly conditions and confusing the home team in their own backyard.
Go to mwcd.in Homepage To Get Relevant Content.