Gujarat Titans (GT) with a score of 192 runs for the loss of 4 wickets defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 37 runs.
Hardik Pandya proved his mettle in 3 departments, scored unbeaten 87 runs, effected a run-out and also picked up a wicket. The Titans are now at the top of the points table with 4 wins of 5 games. Manohar and Pandya added 86 runs off 55 balls for the 4th wicket and this pulled away the game of the Rajasthan Royals. To widen the gap even further, Miller and Pandya ransacked 47 from the last 3 overs.
Though Jos Buttler managed to start off the game for the RR team in style, the rest of the batters did not reach up to the mark.
A mixed start for the GT
The bowling for the RR team was opened by James Neesham. Matthew Wade hit 3 fours taking advantage of this. In the very next over, he was run out. When the powerplay ended, Sanju Samson tried his luck but he was welcomed by Pandya with a straight 6 before Gill pulled him for a 4.
Manohar-Pandya revive Titans
In the 7th over, the RR team seemed to have the upper hand with 53 runs for the loss of 3 wickets. The following 4 over’s conceded only 24 runs. Then came Pandya and Manohar and took over the game totally. Manohar managed to hit Chahal for a 4 and 6 in 2 consecutive balls. Sen conceded 3 fours and the game took a turn in favor of the GT team. Pandya managed to; also, punish Ashwin with ‘back-to-back’ sixes. Though Chahal managed to remove Manohar, he paid a double price with Miller, who hit 3 fours and also a six in the 19th over that conceded 21 runs.
The turning of the tide by Ferguson
Ashwin launched Rashid for a 6, but Ferguson made sure he was sent back, courtesy the catch from Miller. After 4 balls, Buttler helped Ferguson for a 6 over ‘fine leg’. This brought him up to 50 off only 23 balls. But the slow Yorker from Ferguson castled Buttler. This left the RR team with only 65 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in the powerplay.
Pandya’s ‘direct’ hit to get SAnju Samson back is definitely termed as ‘excellent’ fielding. After 3 over’s sans any boundaries, Dussen edged Dayal. This left the RR team with 90 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in the 11th over.
Shimron Hetmeyer tried his best to keep the odds in his favor by hitting Shami for a 6 and also a 4 before he got holed-out in the same over. The RR team needed 76 runs in the last 7 overs with Neesham and Parag at the crease. Ferguson came back in the 16th over and succeeded to get Parag out. After 2 over’s Pandya managed to get Neesham ‘caught and bowled’ with a slow one. This sealed the game.
