In a run chase, Rahul Tewatia pulled off another masterclass as Gujarat Titans (GT) secured their 3rd consecutive win in the IPL 2022 season.
Gujarat was always ahead in the run chase after restricting Punjab Kings (PBKS) to 189/9, with Shubman Gill playing beautifully. He played fluent strokes en route to a 59-ball 96, falling four runs short of his maiden century.
Shubman Gill played yet another sublime innings, scoring a career-best 96 off 59 balls, but it was Rahul Tewatia’s two sixes off the final two balls that took Gujarat Titans over the line against Punjab Kings at the Brabourne Stadium.
Chasing 190, Titans needed 62 from the last six overs with nine wickets in hand. But that one big over that would have titled the game in the Titans’ favour didn’t come until the end.
With 19 required from the final over, Odean Smith started with a wide to David Miller, but on the next ball, Hardik Pandya got run out while trying to sneak in a bye. Rahul Tewatia took a single first ball to hand back the strike to Miller, who then pulled Smith over midwicket for four.
Then with 12 needed, Tewatia smashed the last two balls over deep midwicket to steal the victory. The boundary-rider got his hands on the first one but couldn’t parry it inside. The next was a six the moment it hit the bat, leading to wild celebrations from Tewatia.
Gujarat was already in a good position by the time Gill was dismissed. However, excellent death bowling from Arshdeep Singh and Kagiso Rabada saw 19 runs being needed off the last three overs.
It was left to Odean Smith to defend, and he started off well. He conceded just seven runs off the first four balls, including an unnecessary overthrow that came back to bite him.
Tewatia was on strike, and GT needed 12 runs to win off the last two balls. Similar to the previous time, Tewatia did the unthinkable and smashed two consecutive sixes over cow corner to seal the game off in style.
Shubman Gill was the Man of The Match, and he talked about how effective his innings were for the Titans. He said: “It is important to keep the scoreboard ticking. It is important to hit those gaps because this outfield is rapid. It is just about execution. It was just one of those days where I was hitting the ball well and finding the gaps as well. I am hitting the ball hard, trust me. I am doing my level best to hit it hard, it might not look that way. As an opener, I have to bat through the innings, so that it is easier for the big-hitters to hit it in the end. Instead of not thinking in the nets, I try and work and reduce my dot balls as much as possible.”
