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Another cliffhanger in the IPL. We have got pretty much used to that in the last four five days and it was no different today. Credit to the Punjab Kings for taking the game deep. As Hardik mentioned, he would be much happier if his team finishes it off earlier, especially from a comfortable situation. The IPL action continues with the Kolkata Knight Riders hosting the Sunrisers Hyderabad tomorrow. Do join us for the coverage. Until then, it's goodbye and good night from myself (Arya Sekhar Chakraborty) and my fellow commentator Pratyush Rohra. Cheers!!
Mohit Sharma (Player of the Match): I didn’t think to much. I have played here before, I thought this could be on the slower side. I thought of going for the variations. Hardik was beside me and had the time to talk with him and decide on what we need to do. There is no such keyword. When you are practising, try to make the scenarios and bowl accordingly. I was prepared earlier on, every individual was given a role. I knew that I won't be bowling with the new ball. All credit goes to the coach for the environment he has created. That clears a lot of doubts.
Hardik Pandya (Gujarat Titans captain): Yeah to be very honest I would not appreciate the game to go this close from the situation wich we were in This is the beauty of this sport. We will go back to our drawing board and make a few changes. When we have six overs of 60 and the kind of depth we had, we can take a couple of risks more in the middle overs, especially with the conditions so good for batting. Not really to be honest (on the pitch turning out to be a low scoring one). The wicket was good but the hardness of the soil was making the ball dry up. When the new ball was playing, it was coming on very nicely. Mohit and Alzarri bowled brilliantly. He was there with us as a help bowler last year. He always gave his effort. For someone who has played so much and come out with this performance is heartening to see. It would have little tough t swallow had the result gone the other way. I would like to finish the game earlier, I am not a big fan of that.
Time for post-match presentation ceremony with Murali Kartik.
Shubman Gill: The wicket got a bit challenging in the end and it was difficult with the old ball. It's a big ground, so it's difficult to hit boundaries. It was important for us to pick our gaps and run hard between the wickets. (Pressure at the backend) I feel like I should have finished the match. I think Rewatia and PBKS is a love story. He finished with two sixes last time out and loves facing them. There's pressure for both teams in these types of games. It's important to minimize dot balls and build an innings. After their innings got over, we knew we could score quickly with the hard ball. It was important to have a good start and a powerplay. We ticked that box but lost some momentum in the middle, especially when Hardik bhai got out. But because it wasn't a big score, it was okay to minimize dot balls and get the runs. (Mohit Sharma) It's amazing. Even when he was bowling in the nets, he looked great. Especially with the old ball, he's got a great yorker and it's very accurate. Even on a surface like this, he knew which batters to target and in what way. He's so good at that.
Shikhar Dhawan (Punjab Kings captain): We didn't have many runs on the board and didn't get a good start. So, we have to rectify that going forward. (56 dot balls) Whenever a team plays that many dot balls, they lose the game. Losing early wickets puts the batting side on the backfoot. So, we have to plan that better. Very proud of them (bowlers). It wasn't a big total and taking the game that team was tremendous. (Livingstone's availability) He came for practice yesterday, so should be another 3-4 days.
Gujarat Titans won by 6 wickets (with one delivery to spare)
Punjab Kings 153/8 in 20 overs
Matthew Short 36(24) | Jitesh Sharma 25(23) Mohit Sharma 2/18(4) | Rashid Khan 1/26(4)
Gujarat Titans 154/4 in 19.5 overs
Shubman Gill 67(49) | Wriddhiman Saha 30(19) Harpreet Brar 1/20(4) | Sam Curran 1/25(3.5)
Wriddhiman Saha got the Titans off to a flying start with a flurry of boundaries in the powerplay. He batted with freedom and his partner Gill wasn’t far behind either. The duo shared a 48-run stand before Kagiso Rabada bounced out Saha with a well-directed bumper. Sai Sudarshan joined Gill in the middle and the duo decided to milk it around for singles and doubles.
Sudarshan got stuck there in the middle and couldn’t quite find the gaps. He struggled to a 20 ball 19 before perishing at the hands of Arshdeep Singh. Gill was still out in the middle and was joined by his skipper Hardik Pandya. Just when the required rate crept up, it was Gill who found the boundary and settled the nerves.
Hardik was struck on the helmet by a fiery delivery from Kagiso Rabada but responded in a terrific fashion, playing a delightful cover drive which fetched him a boundary. He was dismissed in the very next over of Harpreet Brar which put them under a bit of pressure but with Gill in the middle, it was still well within their grasp.
Some tight bowling in the final overs took the game to the final over and Sam Curran almost did it for the Kings. He castled Gill with a length delivery. It was an uncharacteristic shot from the champion batter as he had to rely on Tewatia and Miller to finish the job. Curran then bowled two pin point yorkers but Tewatia kept his calm and ramped him over fine leg to secure the deal for the Titans.
The Iceman Rahul Tewatia does it again for the Gujarat Titans. One of the most magnificent finishers in the IPL in recent years leads his side to a hard-fought victory. Punjab Kings were out of it but managed to claw their way back and eventually lost the cliffhanger on the penultimate delivery of the match. What an IPL we have had so far, another last over thriller and this time GT manages to get over the line. This will certainly ease their nerves. They register their 3rd win of the tournament in 4 games.
19.5 Sam Curran to Rahul Tewatia, FOUR! THE ICEMAN DOES IT AGAIN! They don't call him that for nothing. He's got ice in his veins. Cometh the hour, cometh Rahul Tewatia. On the good length in the off-stump line, not sure why Curran's gone for that when he was nailing yorkers for fun. Anyway, Tewatia moves inside the line and paddles this over short fine leg to help his side get over the line, again! Gujarat Titans win by 6 wickets and a ball to spare!
That is a serious yorker from Curran, again just nailing it to perfection. Look at the desperation from both players, excellent execution from Curran so far. 4 needed off the last 2.
19.4 Sam Curran to David Miller, another perfect yorker! Right under the bat around the boot and Miller managed to jam down on it in the nick of time. The ball rolls behind to the keeper and that allows a single to be pinched. 4 off 2 now...
Curran has nailed his yorkers in the past and he is going for that option. Tewatia only manages to squeeze that away for a single. 5 required off 3 now. Can Miller get it done for GT? Dhawan is off the field and Curran is calling the shots.
19.3 Sam Curran to Rahul Tewatia, finds the near perfect yorker on the middle stump. Tewatia stays deep in his crease and bunts this down to long-on for one
Rahul Tewatia, LHB comes out to the crease.
What is going on in the tournament? Sam Curran has done it before for his team and what a time to get the wicket of Shubman Gill. A massive wicket and Curran is pumped up and why shouldn't he? Are we in for another cliffhanger or what? 6 needed off 4.
19.2 Sam Curran to Shubman Gill, BOWLED HIM! No way! Gill is livid with himself and he absolute should be. That was not required at all. On the good length at the off-stump line and Gill shuffles inside for the hoick across the line, only to connect with fresh air. He heard the death rattle behind him with the off-pole laying flat on the ground. Are we in for another last over thriller? Shubman Gill b Sam Curran 67 (49b, 7x4, 1x6)
This could be a match-turning save, that was game done and dusted if that had gone away to the fence. Crowd is up again and applauding the effort of Rishi Dhawan.
19.1 Sam Curran to David Miller, what a stop by Rishi Dhawan! At the back of a length and there was plenty of width on offer. Miller slaps it firmly towards cover and he thought he's sealed the deal. Had to scurry across for the single in the end, courtesy of a great stop by the fielder to keep the game alive for now
That was a great over Arshddep but still Gujarat will back themselves to chase this. 7 required off the final over and this can still go either way.
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David Miller
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Arshdeep Singh
Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh
