Ahmedabad: Gujarat Titans endured a few nervy moments but did just enough to notch up their third win on the bounce at the Narendra Modi Stadium here on Sunday. Chasing 164 and looking relatively comfortable following Sai Sudharsan’s 57, GT suddenly hit a roadblock in the 19th over. Arshdeep Singh bowled a brilliant 19th over taking Jason Holder’s wicket and conceding only six runs.
Washington Sundar's Finishing Act
Gujarat needed 12 runs in the last over, but Arshad Khan got a crucial boundary off the first ball of the 20th before Washington Sundar finished it off with a six off the fifth ball bowled by Marcus Stoinis. Washington remained unbeaten on 40 off 23 balls, proving to be the finisher that GT have lacked in recent times. The team management will hope that he comes up with more big hits as they push for a top-four berth.
Bowling Masterclass Sets Up Win
The win was largely set up by the GT pacers Mohammed Siraj (2-28), Kagiso Rabada (2-22), and Jason Holder (4-24). The Titans’ new-ball bowlers delivered a bowling masterclass, using ideal good-length balls that batters hate facing. They reduced PBKS, the team with the highest Powerplay score this season, to 35 for 3 by the end of six overs.
Only a promising half-century by Suryansh Shedge (57 off 29 balls, 3 fours, 5 sixes) and his 79-run partnership with Stoinis (41 off 30 balls, 3 fours, 1 six) took PBKS, invited to bat first, to 163 for 9. GT’s Test-match specialists Siraj and Rabada didn’t deliver fuller-length driveable balls but resorted to good-length deliveries. With a little help from the surface, they kept beating the outside edge of the batters.
Key Wickets
Siraj had opener Priyansh Arya caught at third man off a bouncing delivery. Next ball, Australian southpaw Cooper Connolly feathered an inside edge to a good-length ball. Prabhsimran Singh (15) tried to resurrect the innings with captain Shreyas Iyer but was caught at cover off Rabada. Out-of-form Nehal Wadhera edged to Buttler off Holder before the West Indian had Iyer chopping on to his stumps off a ball that jagged in after pitching.
Brief Scores
Gujarat Titans 167 for 6 in 19.5 overs (Sai Sudharsan 57, Washington Sundar 40 not out; Arshdeep Singh 2-24, Vijaykumar Vyshak 2-31) beat Punjab Kings 162 for 9 (Suryansh Shedge 57; Jason Holder 4-24, Kagiso Rabada 2-22, Mohammed Siraj 2-28) by 4 wickets.
