Rashid, Noor run by way of Rajasthan Royals in Gujarat Titans’ excellent recreation
Gujarat Titans 119 for 1 (Saha 41*, Hardik 39*, Chahal 1-22) beat Rajasthan Royals 118 (Samson 30, Rashid 3-14, Noor 2-25) by 9 wickets
Clinical. That’s what Gujarat Titans have been in opposition to Rajasthan Royals on Friday night time in Jaipur. After bowling out Royals for a mere 118, they chased the goal down in simply 13.5 overs with 9 wickets nonetheless in hand.
The win helped Titans stretch their lead on the high of the points table and put one foot within the playoffs. Royals, in the meantime, have now misplaced 4 of their final 5 video games, and are nonetheless caught within the ten-point cluster within the center.
Royals, although, had an honest begin after successful the toss. They have been 50 for two in six overs, however Yashasvi Jaiswal’s run-out triggered a collapse they might by no means get better from. Rashid Khan picked up three wickets and Noor Ahmad bagged two because the innings lasted simply 17.5 overs.
In response, Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill added 71 in 9.4 overs to make the goal look even smaller. Hardik Pandya then belted an unbeaten 39 off 15 balls, placing at 260, to provide everybody an early end.
The powerplay battle
Coming into this recreation, the Titans had the very best financial system powerplay financial system price in IPL 2023. Royals, in the meantime, had the very best scoring price in that part. And Jaipur received to witness a little bit of each. Mohammed Shami received the brand new ball to maneuver within the opening over, and regardless of utilizing their ft to counter the motion, Jaiswal and Jos Buttler might handle just one run off the bat.
From the opposite finish, Hardik received Buttler caught at brief third after being hit for 2 successive fours. But Royals caught with their attacking template. Jaiswal hit Shami for six and 4 within the third over and Samson did the identical to Hardik within the fourth.
Royals appeared to be successful the powerplay battle earlier than a misunderstanding between Jaiswal and Samson resulted within the former being run out. Samson reduce Rashid in the direction of backward level the place Manohar dived to his left to make a partial cease. Jaiswal was greater than three-fourths down when he realised Samson had hardly moved. Unfortunately for him, Manohar’s deflection went in the direction of Mohit Sharma at brief third whose throw to Rashid discovered Jaiswal properly brief.
The Afghan magic
R Ashwin entered at No. 5 to attempt to arrest the collapse. But he lasted solely six balls as Rashid pinged his off stump with a legbreak, forcing Royals to herald Riyan Parag as their Impact Player. That meant Royals would have solely 5 specialist bowlers within the second innings; the unique plan might need been to herald left-arm seamer Kuldip Yadav. The transfer did not work. Rashid’s googly trapped him lbw for 4.
Rashid was taken off after his third over. But there was no respite for the Royals. Noor struck along with his third ball, uprooting Devdutt Padikkal’s off stump for a run-a-ball 12. In his subsequent over, he had Dhruv Jurel lbw. From the opposite finish, Rashid returned to ship again Shimron Hetmyer, leaving Royals 96 for 8. The final two wickets took Royals to 118, which was by no means going to be sufficient.
Saha off to a flier
It’s not usually when a workforce is all out and the opposition’s wicketkeeper is not concerned in any of the dismissals. Still, Saha confirmed his class behind the stumps with a superb one-handed save when Noor sprayed a technique down the leg aspect.
Saha wasn’t executed, although. With Gill taking his time within the chase, he smashed 5 fours within the first 13 balls he confronted. Four of them got here off Trent Boult, the Royals’ powerplay weapon.
Hardik in a rush
After Titans’ defeat to Delhi Capitals, Hardik had taken “full ownership” for not closing out the chase as he struggled to search out any rhythm regardless of scoring an unbeaten half-century. He corrected that right here.
After Yuzvendra Chahal broke the opening stand by having Gill stumped for 36 off 35 balls, Hardik teed off straightaway. He had confronted simply two balls earlier than smashing Adam Zampa for six, 4, 6, 6 off successive deliveries. Despite Saha slowing down after the powerplay, Hardik’s assault meant Titans crossed the road with 37 balls left.
Hemant Brar is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo