Shubman scores 96 and Rahul hits two sixes off last 2 balls to help Titans chase down 190
Rahul Tewatia reminded Punjab Kings of the heartbreak suffered a couple of years ago against Rajasthan Royals. The southpaw, now playing for the Gujarat Titans, recreated that magic, smoking two sixes off the final two deliveries to help his side register a six-wicket win at the Brabourne Stadium on Friday. This was Gujarat's third win on the trot.
Tewatia walked in at the fall of skipper Hardik Pandya on the very first ball of the final over, and took the onus of getting his side over the line in the last two balls. But it was Shubman Gill, who despite missing out on a maiden IPL century by four runs, set the tone of the chase.
Chasing a massive 190, the Mohali boy made full use of an early reprieve to get to his highest IPL score of 96 off 59 balls, that had class stamped all over it. Fresh from his 84 against Delhi Capitals, Gill went one step ahead as he battled a mini slump before falling four shy of the three-figure mark.
Tamil Nadu youngster Sai Sudharsan announced his arrival on the big stage with an impactful 35 but it was Shubman's calculative approach that took Gujarat near the finish line. With Gill going all guns blazing at the other end, the stage was set for young Sai to showcase his big-hitting potential as he welcomed Rahul Chahar with a cracking six over deep midwicket.
Sai, who came in at the fall of Matthew Wade (6), however, slowed down even as Shubman ensured that the required run-rate was kept within reach. Chahar and Arshdeep Singh raised hopes of a turnaround.
Earlier, Liam Livingstone came up with the second fastest half century of the IPL season to help Punjab Kings' record a massive 189 for 9. Livingstone turned Punjab's scratchy start from the word go. He announced his arrival with a first ball boundary before dancing down the track to deposit debutant Darshan Nalkande way over long-on. In less than 10 overs, the 28-year-old changed the complexion of the game with a 27-ball 64 that saw the ball disappear into the night sky on four occasions.
The mayhem could have been averted had Hardik Pandya's boots not kissed the boundary rope while attempting a fine running catch off Rashid Khan when the Englishman was batting on 14. Pandya's error in judgement cost Gujarat another 50 runs from Livingstone's bat before he succumbed to the same bowler.
There was no looking back for Livingstone as he treated the young Nalkande with disdain, to set the tone with a 52-run third wicket stand in the company of Shikhar Dhawan, who once again wasted a good start of 35-ball 30, laced with four boundaries. Jitesh Sharma also came up with a few lusty blows for his 11-ball 23.
1/10:Gujarat beat Punjab
<p>Rahul Tewatia's two sixes off the last two balls of the run-chase against Punjab Kings handed a six-wicket win to Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League on Friday. (BCCI/IPL Photo)</p>
2/10:Last ball win
<p>Tewatia was unbeaten on 13 off three balls as Gujarat reached their 190-run target to win on the last ball of the match. (BCCI/IPL Photo)</p>
3/10:Punjab openers
<p>Punjab captain Mayank Agarwal scored 5 and his opening partner Shikhar Dhawan hit 35 off 30 before falling to Rashid Khan. (BCCI/IPL Photo)</p>
4/10:Rashid Khan
<p>Rashid Khan took three wickets with his wily spin and only concede 22 runs in his four overs. (BCCI/IPL Photo)</p>
5/10:Liam Livingstone
<p>Liam Livingstone scored 64 off 27 balls and hit seven fours and four sixes before falling to Rashid. (BCCI/IPL Photo)</p>
6/10:Punjab 189/9
<p>Rookie Jitesh Sharma, 23 off 11 balls, and Rahul Chahar, unbeaten 22 off 14, took Punjab to 189/9. (BCCI/IPL Photo)</p>
7/10:Shubman Gill
<p>Gujarat opener Shubman Gill was the game's top scorer -- hitting 96 off 59 balls, with 11 fours and a six -- before he fell to Kagiso Rabada in the second last over of the chase. (BCCI/IPL Photo)</p>
8/10:Gill's key partnerships
<p>Gill struck key partnerships with debutant B Sai Sudharsan, 35 off 30 balls, and Hardik Pandya, who made 27 off 18. (BCCI/IPL Photo)</p>
9/10:Rabada
<p>Rabada took two wickets -- including opener Matthew Wade, who hit 6 off 7 balls -- and gave up 35 runs in his four overs. (BCCI/IPL Photo)</p>
