GT defeated RR comprehensively by 37 runs to make a strong case for IPL 2022 title contenders.
Follow Us
All-round GT defeated RR by a comprehensive 37-run margin after restricting them to 155/9 in the chase at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai on Thursday to make themselves a strong case for IPL 2022 title contender. By the virtue of the victory, the Ahmedabad-franchise, leapfrogged to the top spot with eight points from five outings.
READ MORE: Yash Dayal: Mumbai Indians reject, son of a cricketer, makes debut for Gujarat Titans
Chasing a challenging target, Jos Buttler (54) continued his fine form, to retain his IPL 2022 Orange cap but failed to find support in Devdutt Padikkal (0) and Ravichandran Ashwin (8).
Buttler, who has been in fine touch in the season, notched up eight boundaries and three hits over the fence in his 24-ball knock.
However, captain Sanju Samson (11), failed to make the most of his start as he was run out by a brilliant throw from fellow captain Hardik Pandya. Rassie van der Dussen (6), too, followed the suit in no time.
West Indies power-hitter Shimron Hetymer (29), meanwhile, kept the Royals in the leather hunt as he hit two boundaries and one six in his 17-ball knock while Riyan Parag (18) and James Neesham (17) could not hold the fort for too long in the middle.
It turned out to be a fruitful debut for UP left arm pacer Yash Dayal as he picked up three-wicket haul even though he went for 10 runs per over.
New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson, also, chipped in with a three-wicket haul to make sure the chase remained out of reach for the opposition.
Earlier, Hardik Pandya (87 not out) and Abhinav Manohar (43) notched up brilliant cameos to guide Gujarat Titans to 192/4.
Asked to bat, GT lost their top-order batters, Matthew Wade (12), Shubman Gill (13) and Vijay Shankar (2), like a pack of cards.
Pandya, however, showed no respect to the Royals’ bowlers as he took them to the cleaners and notched up his second consecutive half-century. He was well complimented by Manohar who played a perfect second fiddle to his captain and kept the run board ticking with his aggressive intent.
Pandya and Manohar forged an important partnership of 86 runs for the fourth wicket to keep the momentum of the match on their side. The youngster hit four boundaries and two sixes in his 28-ball cameo while the captain remained unbeaten in his 52-ball knock which included four boundaries and two sixes.
Miller, later, chipped in with a brilliant slog knock off 31 runs from 14 deliveries laced with boundaries and one six to forge an unbeaten stand of 52 runs with his skipper.
Meanwhile, after a good start to the innings, RR bowlers failed to pick up wickets at regular intervals of time.
Kuldeep Sen, Yuzvendra Chahal and Riyan Parag scalped a wicket each.
