Gujarat Titans (GT) continue their dominance in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 with another thrilling run chase. After seeing at 171-run target, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) suffered their third loss in a row which makes their playoffs chances a bit tricky. David Miller and Rahul Tewatia finished off the run chase with three balls to spare. With eight wins in the bag already, Titans already have one leg in the playoffs.
Good start
The run chase got off to a decent start with Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill setting a platform. They scored 46 runs in the powerplay overs. While Gill nearly scored at run-a-ball during fielding restrictions, Saha took the attacking approach. For RCB, Wanindu Hasaranga got the first breakthrough in the eighth over. Saha scored 29 runs from 22 deliveries in the 51-run partnership.
Wickets fall in middle overs
After Saha's wicket, Gill took on Shahbaz Ahmed in the next over. But Gill could not continue the onslaught. The opener got trapped in front of the wickets. He scored 31 runs from 28 deliveries. In his next over, Shahbaz got another wicket. Skipper Hardik Pandya tried to clear the long-on boundary early in his innings but found the fielder inside the boundary.
Sai Sudharshan looked menacing during his stay at the crease but got run out before he could do more damage. Sudharshan got out for a 14-ball 20. Miller and Tewatia started to take on the bowlers with required run rate going towards 12 runs per over.
Tewatia, Miller finish it off
Harshal Patel bowled well but lacked support from the other end. Miller played a few big shots to keep it within GT’s grasp. Till the 18th over, Tewatia was scoring just above run-a-ball. In the 18th over, Tewatia broke free and targetted Josh Hazlewood. 17 runs were scored in the 18th over. Patel bowled a near-perfect penultimate over but it was spoiled by Tewatia's six off the last ball. In the end, it turned out to be an easy run chase for Titans.
Tewatia scored 43 runs from 25 deliveries including five fours and a couple of sixes. Miller scored 39 runs in the unbeaten 79-run partnership. Miller hit four fours and one six in his match-winning knock.
Sangwan’s comeback
After winning the toss, Faf du Plessis decided to break the monotony and bat first at Brabourne Stadium. The decision did not seem to be a convincing one at the start of the innings as the skipper got out for a four-ball duck. Playing his first IPL match since 2017, Pradeep Sangwan, a member of Under-19 World Cup 2007-winning squad, got the wicket.
Fifties for Kohli, Patidar
Kohli and Rajat Patidar did not take too many risks during the powerplay overs. RCB’s score was 43/1 after the first six overs. In the middle overs, the duo accelerated and targetted Alzarri Joseph and Lockie Ferguson. However, Kohli slowed down with Patidar taking on the bowlers.
The former RCB skipper got to his half-century from 45 deliveries, his second-slowest in IPL. In the next over, Patidar got to his maiden half-century as well. Pandya brought back Sangwan into the attack and he broke the partnership. Patidar scored 52 runs from 32 deliveries including five fours and a couple of sixes. Sangwan conceded just 19 runs and took a couple of wickets.
Good finish
In the slog overs, Kohli struggled for big shots and was eventually bowled by Mohammed Shami. He scored 58 runs from 53 deliveries, his slowest fifty-plus knock of IPL career. Glenn Maxwell helped RCB get big runs in slog overs. Finisher Dinesh Karthik was promoted up the order but could score only two runs from three deliveries. Pandya saved Rashid for the last and Karthik’s problems against leg-spinners continued.
In the penultimate over, Maxwell targetted Ferguson but the Kiwi quick managed to get the wicket, thanks to Rashid’s stunner. Maxwell scored an 18-ball 33 including three fours and two sixes.
Playing his first match of the season, Mahipal Lomror contributed with a cameo as well. He scored 16 runs from eight deliveries and got RCB to 170/6. He survived a dismissal when the ball had hit the spidercam wire. He got out off the final delivery of the innings.
