Kolkata Knight Riders’ Rahmanullah Gurbaz performs a shot throughout the Indian Premier League 2023 match towards Gujarat Titans in Kolkata on April 29, 2023.
| Photo Credit: Ok.R. Deepak
Defending champions Gujarat Titans as soon as once more got here up with a scientific show to prevail over Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets and climb to the highest of the desk within the IPL, right here on Saturday.
It was candy revenge for Titans, who misplaced their house sport due to Rinku Singh’s heroics.
First it was, the Titans tempo duo of Mohammad Shami (3/33) and Josh Little (2/25) picked 5 wickets between them, whereas left-arm spinner Noor Ahmad (2/21) continued his nice run to limit KKR to a below-par 179/7 after Hardik Pandya opted to bowl.
On a batting-friendly strip, Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s scintillating 39-ball 81 set the tempo, however KKR managed simply 45 runs and misplaced three wickets within the last 5 overs to miss the psychological 200-run mark.
In reply, GT raced to the goal in 17.5 overs with Vijay Shankar remaining unbeaten on 51 off 24 balls (2×4, 5×6).
Defending the paltry complete, the house facet had their moments after they dismissed a flawless Shubman Gill one run shy of fifty and virtually had David Miller on 26.
But they made a harakiri of kinds as Miller’s skier, which might have been a simple catch by their wicketkeeper, was tried by Suyash Sharma from third man and he ended up grassing it.
GT at that point nonetheless wanted 51 runs from 29 balls nevertheless it turned out to be a game-changing second as Shankar and Miller (32 not out; 18b, 2×4, 2×6) sealed the problem in an unbroken 87-run unbroken partnership that got here off 39 balls.
The win took GT to high spot within the desk with 12 factors from eight matches as they want to win two extra matches to seal the playoff berth for a second time on the trot.
KKR however staring at early elimination after enduring their sixth defeat from 9 matches as they now face should win all their remaining 5 matches.
Gill (49; 35b) gave GT an ideal begin after shedding Wriddhiman Saha (10) early as he alongside with skipper Hardik Pandya laid the inspiration in a 50-run partnership.
Having conceded 18 runs from his first two oves, Sunil Narine returned within the twelfth over to finish his five-match wickless drought when he dismissed Gill.
At 102/3 after 13 overs, KKR nonetheless had the sting when Suyash bowled a four-run over with three dot balls because the required run-rate for GT shot previous 11.
But the South African batter broke the shackles with a boundary off Chakravarthy, earlier than taking Suyash to cleaners, in a 18-run over.
Miller smashed the rookie legspinner for 2 sixes in a row, earlier than Shankar additionally chipped in with a boundary as there was no trying again for GT from there on.
Returning to the facet after Jason Roy pulled out due to a again spasm, the Afghanistan opener struck his second fifty of the season as he smashed seven sixes and 5 fours en route to his 39-ball knock.
But as soon as rookie Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmed (4-0-21-2) dismissed his teammate with compatriot Rashid Khan finishing a well-judged catch, KKR didn’t make good use of the ultimate few overs as Mohammed Shami (3/33 in 4 overs) and Irishman Josh Little (2/25 in 4 overs) did play their half to perfection.
At 135/5, KKR had the firepower of Andre Russell and Rinku Singh with 28 balls to go.
But Rinku turned Noor’s second sufferer, whereas ‘birthday boy’ Russell couldn’t categorical himself totally with GT bowlers doing nicely to limit him for a 19-ball 34 not out (2×4, 3×6).
The match begun after a 45-minute rain interruption and KKR misplaced two wickets within the powerplay to Shami.
The India pacer dismissed Narayan Jagadeesan (19 off 15 balls) and comeback-man Shardul Thakur who capped a four-ball duck earlier than being caught by excellent backward operating catch by Mohit Sharma.
But that didn’t drag again KKR as Gurbaz confirmed the way in which with some clear powerhitting, racing to a 27-ball fifty with 4 fours and 4 sixes.
Making his intent clear, Gurbaz teed off smashing GT skipper Pandya for 2 sixes in three balls.
He then took the assault on Shami with disdain. The Indian tempo spearhead angled a supply onto him however Gurbaz was in full circulate as he backed away and smashed it straight over the bowler’s head to race to 26 off 10 balls.
Rashid (0/54 in 4 overs) was introduced in however he additionally failed to stem the circulate of runs with a relentless Gurbaz putting in full pressure.
