Jaipur, April 10: Gujarat Titans stunned Rajasthan Royals with a thrilling three-wicket victory in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday, snapping the hosts’ winning streak.
With scorching half-centuries, Sanju Samson (68 not out off 38) and Riyan Parag (76 off 48) maintained their scorching form in the league as Rajasthan Roylals reached 196 for three after being called in to bat.
For the majority of the Titans’ innings, Shubman Gill (72 off 44) fought alone before Rashid Khan and Rahul Tewatia (22 off 11) pulled off a thrilling last-ball victory.
Titans were required to score 73 runs in the final 30 balls, but they were able to reduce the deficit to 15 runs in the final six balls.
Again, Avesh Khan was assigned to bowl the twentieth over. Khan has shown his mettle in the closing overs of a match. When it came down to two off a ball in the end, Rashid’s rasping cut for four put the Titans ahead.
Kuldeep Sen, a pacer for the Royals, scored three runs in a scorching spell in his debut game of the season before faltering in the final overs.
Sai Sudharsan, the opener (35 off 29), was in fine form up until he was stranded lbw trying to make a lap shot.
Sen’s second victim came when he hit a wide ball against Matthew Wade’s stumps. Sen took down Abhinav Manohar for his third scalp after he misjudged the line and was outpaced.
The senior spinner R Ashwin gave away 17 runs in the 17th over, reducing the score to a manageable 42 off 18 balls. It was a costly choice.
The Royals had to maintain one extra fielder inside the circle due to an over rate penalty, and 15 were needed off the last over.
Before the combination of captain Samson and Parag stole the momentum from the visitors on the powerplay, the Titans had everything under control. The Royals scored 123 runs in the final ten overs.
On his way to his third half-century in five innings, Parag, who has elevated his game and is flourishing in his new batting position of number four, was at his most obscene.
Together, he and Samson, who has also been in incredible form since the tournament began, amassed 130 runs off 78 balls.
The Titans suffered a great deal after Wade dropped Parag on 0 and 6 off star spinner Rashid, as the highly effective hitter went on to find huge hits at will.
The 22-year-old struck five sixes, three of which came via the sweep stroke off left-arm spinner Noor Ahmed.
With a clean six off long-on off-pacer Mohit Sharma, Parag reached his fifty.
In contrast, Samson began the innings by hitting back-to-back fours off Umesh Yadav before stepping aside to let Parag take care of business.
GT did a dismal job at ground fielding in addition to catching.
Samson scored his third half-century with a clean boundary off a full toss by Mohit that Tewatia ought to have caught at long-on.
Titans captain Gill lost control of his emotions due to a wide call that ultimately remained wide, as he became frustrated with the turn of events.
For a second maximum in the last over, Parag bounced a ball from Mohit over mid-wicket. Yashasvi Jaiswal (24 off 19) had hit some beautiful off-side strokes early in the Royals innings, but he was caught by a well-planned Umesh scoop.
In the sixth over, his opening partner Jos Buttler attempted a long drive off Rashid but was caught at first slip. PTI ATK ATK BS