Shikhar Dhawan struck a effective half-century as error-prone Punjab Kings lastly produced a scientific efficiency to beat Gujarat Titans by eight wickets and finish the IPL desk leaders’ five-match profitable streak right here on Tuesday. Pacer Kagiso Rabada snared 4 wickets as Punjab Kings restricted formidable Gujarat Titans to a below-par 143 for eight after Hardik Pandya opted to bat first. Punjab, who made a large number of what ought to have been a simple chase of their final sport, realized from their errors to tempo the innings a lot better and overcome the goal in 16 overs.
Dhawan (62 not out off 53 balls) scored his third half-century of the season and bought good assist from Sri Lankan Bhanuka Rajapaksa (40 off 28), who entertained with 5 fours and a six.
As one of many senior batters within the group, Dhawan took the duty of ending the sport for his group and he did that with elan.
Skipper Mayank Agarwal dropped himself down the order to accommodate Jonny Bairstow (1) on the high of the order however the transfer didn’t work.
Nonetheless, the 87-run stand between the left-handers, Dhawan and Rajapaksa, ensured Punjab bought house comfortably.
Liam Livingstone (30 not out off 10) displayed some brutal hitting in direction of the top of the chase and smashed premier India pacer Mohammad Shami for 4 sixes together with a monstrous 117m hit over deep sq. leg. The sixteenth over going for 30 runs additionally gave an enormous enhance to PBKS’ web run price.
It was a much-needed win for Punjab, who’ve struggled for consistency this season with 5 wins and as many losses.
For Gujarat, who’re set to make the play-offs, it was a well timed wake-up name to repair their batting points, particularly on the high of the order. They’ve had someone or the opposite to bail them out of powerful conditions however it was not the case on Tuesday.
Earlier, Sai Sudharsan‘s unbeaten 65 off 50 balls was the saving grace in Gujarat’s innings as Punjab bowlers conceded solely 11 fours and two sixes.
Sudarsan managed to hit 5 boundaries and a six however ran out of companions as Gujarat skipper Hardik Pandya’s determination to elect to bat backfired.
They misplaced openers Shubman Gill (9) and Wriddhiman Saha (21) cheaply. Gill, who had struck two boundaries, was dismissed courtesy a direct hit from Rishi Dhawan from cowl, within the third over.
Within the subsequent over Saha, who began aggressively, gave a sitter to rival captain Mayank Agawral at mid-off, giving Rabada (4/33) his first wicket. Saha, who had hit three boundaries and a six, was undone by the additional bounce, as he tried to play a lofted shot, however mistimed it and paid the worth.
Gujarat additional slipped to 44/3 as pacer Rishi Dhawan (1/26) eliminated Hardik (1) early. Hardik tried to drive an out of doors the off size ball, however ended it nicking to wicket-keeper Jitesh Sharma leaving his group in all kinds of bother.
Then Sudharsan and David Miller (11) tried to rally the innings however managed so as to add solely 23 runs in 30 balls.
It turned 67/4 after Liam Livingstone (1/15) dismissed Miller, who miscued a lofted drive to be caught by Rabada at long-off.
Sudharshan tried to alter gears from the eleventh over, when he pulled Livingstone for his first boundary, however was unable to free his arms incessantly.
Rabada additional pegged again Gujarat by eradicating Rahul Tewatia (11) and Rashid Khan (0) in successive deliveries within the seventeenth over, with GT reeling at 112/6.
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Rabada capped off a memorable spell by dismissing Lockie Ferguson (5).
For Punjab, Sandeep Sharma (0/17), Arshdeep Singh (1/35), Rahul Chahar (0/11) and Livingstone additionally performed their components to perfection.
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