Serving as net bowler last season, Mohit Sharma became Gujarat Titans’ (GT) hero in a low-scoring affair at Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on April 22 as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) lost by seven runs. Once again, LSG skipper KL Rahul’s strike rate was under the scanner as he failed to finish it off despite an excellent start. Guided by head coach Ashish Nehra from the sidelines, Hardik Pandya-led GT defended their lowest total to stun LSG batters who failed to hit a boundary for last 45 balls.
Excellent start
In the run chase of 136, LSG started off cautiously with just six runs from two overs. In the third over, Rahul hit Mohammed Shami for three consecutive fours. Rashid Khan's first over was expensive as well. Rahul hit him for a couple of fours whereas Kyle Mayers hit a six. After six overs, LSG were 53/0. Rashid made a comeback with the wicket of Mayers in the seventh over. He scored 24 runs from 19 balls including two fours and one six.
Pandya’s brigade slow it down
In the ninth over, Rashid got the better of Pandya but he was dropped by deep square leg fielder Abhinav Manohar. At halfway stage, LSG were 80/1. In the 14th over, another catch was dropped. Rahul was dropped at long-on by Vijay Shankar. In the next over, Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad got Krunal stumped. The southpaw contributed with a run-a-ball 23. Nicholas Pooran found it difficult to rotate strike, let alone hit boundaries. He went for a slogsweep against Ahmad but got caught by Hardik.
Rahul fails to finish
In the last three overs, LSG needed 23 runs. Mohit Sharma bowled a brilliant over conceding just six singles. Shami was given the opportunity to bowl the penultimate over. Shami was brilliant with his execution and conceded just five runs in the 19th over. LSG needed 12 runs off the final over. Mohit bowled the final over. Rahul got a couple of runs off the first ball. He went for a big shot off the next one and got caught. He scored 68 runs from 61 balls including eight fours. Marcus Stoinis went for an aerial shot as well and got caught at long-on by David Miller. Two more run outs followed off the next two balls and the game was out of LSG’s grasp. Mohit finished off with a slower ball as GT won the game by seven runs.
Steady start
Earlier, Pandya won the toss and opted to bat first. Krunal Pandya got the big wicket of opener Shubman Gill for a two-ball duck. Pandya struggled in the powerplay overs whereas Wriddhiman Saha found boundaries. GT were 40/1 after six overs. Pandya accelerated in the ninth over with a four and a six off Ravi Bishnoi. At halfway stage, GT were 71/1.
Boundaries dry up
Pandya came back to bowl his final over and got the wicket of Saha. The wicketkeeper-batter missed his half-century. He scored 47 runs from 37 balls including six fours. Amit Mishra got the wicket of new batter Abhinav Manohar in the 12th over. Vijay Shankar became Afghan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq's maiden IPL wicket. Shankar scored just 10 runs from 12 balls.
Dull finish
In the 18th over, Pandya took on Bishnoi. He hit him for two sixes and a four. He reached his half-century from 44 balls. Naveen bowled a brilliant penultimate over conceding just five runs from it as David Miller struggled to score. Pandya started off the last over with a six off Stoinis. But the skipper got out off the next ball. He scored 66 runs from 50 balls including two fours and four sixes. Only three runs came off the last four deliveries. Miller went for a big shot but got caught at long-on. He scored just six runs from 12 balls. GT managed to post a below par total of 135/6.
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