IPL 2022: GT beat LSG by 62 runs

PUNE: Gujarat Titans turned on the style to beat Lucknow Super Giants by 62 runs in a low-scoring match in the IPL here on Tuesday. The resounding win helped Gujarat become the first team to qualify for the playoffs. Gujarat has nine wins to its credit in 12 games, while Lucknow, which is second in the table, has suffered its fourth defeat in 12 matches.

Set to chase a modest target of 145, Lucknow crumbled in the face of disciplined bowling from Gujarat. In-form Quinton de Kock was the first to be dismissed for 11 off Yash Dayal and his wicket resulted in a procession with Deepak Hooda (27) and Avesh Khan (12) being the only other batters to cross single digit.

Rashid Khan weaved his customary magic returning impressive figures of four for 24 as Lucknow was skittled out for 82 in 13.5 overs. Lanky left-arm spinner from Tamil Nadu, R Sai Kishore, making his debut for Gujarat, was equally impressive taking two wickets for seven runs.

Earlier, opening batter Shubman Gill hit a fine unbeaten half-century but Lucknow Super Giants produced a disciplined bowling effort to restrict Gujarat Titans to a modest 144 for 4 in the Indian Premier League match here on Tuesday.

Gill remained not out on 63 off 49 balls with the help of seven fours but lacked support from the other end. He was left stranded as Gujarat’s next highest scorer was David Miller (26).

Avesh Khan (2/26) picked up two wickets for Lucknow, while Mohsin Khan (1/18) and Jason Holder (1/41) scalped one apiece.

Gujarat’s decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired big time as it lost Wriddhiman Saha (5) and Matthew Wade (10) cheaply with the scoreboard reading just 24 inside five overs.

With wickets tumbling from the other end, Gill went about his business cautiously and in the company of skipper Hardik Pandya shared 27 runs for the third wicket before the latter departed, edging one to Quinton de Kock behind the stumps to give Avesh his second wicket of the day.

Once Hardik departed, Gill took the onus on himself and upped the ante, first chopping Avesh to the square boundary and then reverse-swept Krunal Pandya to the third-man fence in the next over.

But thereafter, both Gill and Miller failed to open their arms as Mohsin and Krunal bowled tight line and length to stem the run flow. Miller finally broke the shackles in the third delivery of the 16th over with a huge six off Jason Holder over extra cover, in what was the first maximum of the innings.

Brief scores: Gujarat Titans 144/4 in 20 overs (S Gill 63*) bt Lucknow Super Giants 82 in 13.5 overs (Rashid Khan 4/24)