Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill’s unblemished half-century was overshadowed by a blistering knock from the unclimbed Shashank Singh as Kings XI Punjab took part in the match in Ahmedabad on Thursday. A thrilling wicket win in the Indian Premier League. Gill’s total of 89 off 48 balls was his highest personal score so far this season, hitting 6 fours and 4 fulls in the process to lead GT to an impressive of 199 four-wicket hauls. He also received generous help from B Sai Sudharsan’s 19-ball 33 and Rahul Tewatia’s unbeaten 23 from 8 balls.
But GT faced a heartbreaking moment as Shashank produced the best performance of his life with an unbeaten 61 off 29 balls during which he hit 6 boundaries and 4 sixes to lead PBKS Go home with a ball.
He was well supported by Ashutosh Sharma (31 off 17 balls) and the two scored 43 runs off just 22 balls, boosting PBKS’ hopes of achieving them.
Chasing a big score, PBKS faced an early onslaught from captain Shikhar Dhawan, who caught a pass from Umesh Yadav while trying to cross Shot over cover.
Jonny Bairstow (22 off 13) was out of form and was later dismissed by Afghanistan left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad.
PBKS kept losing wickets, followed by Prabhsimran Singh (35 off 24; 5×4, 1×6), who was beaten by third man Mohit Sharma Sharma) caught and the batsman only bowled to the delivery bowled by Ahmed. At the end of the eighth inning, PBKS took the lead as three runs slipped to 64 runs.
Sikandar Raza was bowled twice in the 11th over by Umesh Yadav, though both chances were difficult.
But Shashank made the most of those lives, bowling Umesh for two boundaries and a six in the 11th over, and scored 17 runs.
Raza didn’t last long, however, as he sent Mohit’s long ball behind the stumps to Friedhiman Saha.
Shashank continued to use his long overs, picking up some boundaries and sixes to keep PBKS in the hunt.
Shashank held his ground and smashed 50 off just 25 balls, including five outs and three over the fence.
Shashank single-handedly kept PBKS in a fight with his fireworks. With strong support from Ashutosh, the duo snatched victory from defeat.
Earlier, opener Gill got off to an exciting start by knocking spinner Harpreet Brar off his head in the first six balls of the match.
GT’s run continued till the third over before Kagiso Rabada (2/44) dismissed Wriddhiman Saha, who was locked in by PBKS skipper Shikhar Dhawan at mid-on.
Kane Williamson (26 off 22), who replaced the injured David Miller, looked in superb touch, hitting Sam Curran and Rabada to keep the GT scoreboard running.
But Williamson’s batting was interrupted by extra bounce from Brar, who was caught by Jonny Bairstow at backward point in the ninth over.
Zimbabwe all-rounder Raza was tested by Gill and debutant Sudharsan, who scored 14 runs in the 12th over, hitting the fence three times.
Gill led from the front and bowled Rabada to maximum before Sudarsan struck the bowler to mid-off to maintain the pace.
Sudarsan goes about his affairs in style, drawing boundaries casually, while Gill is happy to play a minor role.
Sudarsan’s cameo ended when Harshal Patel baited him and he was caught by wicket-keeper Jitesh Sharma as the batsman came on board , the batsman tries to top-slice the ball with a slower pitch.
Gill hit 50 off 31 balls with a boundary behind deep square leg in the 15th over.
Gill was at his imperious best, bowling Harshal for maximum runs in the 17th over.
While Gill was firing on all cylinders from one end, Vijay Shankar was level and caught by diver Brar at long off Rabada.
In his second spell, Harshal’s length was wayward and Tewatia took advantage of it well, scoring 20 runs in the penultimate over.
Tewatiya played a dazzling game, including hitting pacer Ardeep Singh twice for boundaries in the last two balls.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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