Titans pulls off a thrilling last-ball win over Punjab to record third win in a row
Rahul Tewatia emerged the hero for Gujarat Titans smashing two sixes off the last two balls of the match to guide his team to a six-wicket win over Punjab Kings by runs in the IPL here on Friday. Needing 12 runs with just two balls remaining, Tewatia smote Punjab’s Odean Smith for huge sixes over the midwicket region to send his dug-out into delirium. This is Gujarat’s third win on the trot, while Punjab lost its second match in four games. Tewatia remained unbeaten on 13 (3b, 2x6).
MUMBAI: Before Tewatia took centre stage, it was Gujarat opener Shubman Gill who hogged the limelight with a scintillating 96 (59b, 11x4, 1x6) and was unfortunate to miss out on a maiden IPL century. Gill found perfect foil in rookie B Sai Sudharsan who scored 35 (30b, 4x4, 1x6) as the duo added 101 runs for the second wicket after the early dismissal of Matthew Wade for 6.
Earlier, England all-rounder Liam Livingstone, this IPL’s costliest foreign player, made full use of a lucky reprieve to smash a second consecutive half century and help Punjab post 189 for 9. Livingstone, who was bought for Rs 11.5 crore, smashed 64 off just 27 balls to score the bulk of the runs for Punjab after being asked to bat first.
He shared 52 runs for the third wicket with opener Shikhar Dhawan (35) to revive the Punjab innings after it was 43 for 2 after the powerplay.
Livingstone, who had hit 60 off 32 balls against Chennai Super Kings in the previous match, survived by the skin of his teeth in the ninth over, when he was on 14, as Titans captain Hardik Pandya’s foot touched the boundary ropes while trying to take a high catch off spinner Rashid Khan (3/22).
The Englishman took full advantage of the reprieve given to him as he reached his fifty off 21 balls. In the end, he struck seven fours and four sixes in his quickfire knock. The potent Gujarat Titans bowling attack made a brief comeback with debutant Darshan Nalkande (2/37) and the seasoned Rashid claiming wickets in quick succession.
Brief scores: Punjab Kings 189/9 in 20 overs (L Livingstone 64, R Khan 3/22) lost to Gujarat Titans 190/4 in 20 overs (S Gill 96)
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