IPL 2022: Punjab Kings beat Gujarat Titans by eight wickets behind Kagiso Rabada and Shikhar Dhawan to keep their playoff chances alive.
A superb half-century from Shikhar Dhawan helped Punjab Kings to an eight-wicket victory against Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League here on Tuesday, ending the Titans’ five-match winning streak. The Punjab Kings kept Gujarat Titans at bay with the help of Kagiso Rabada, who took four wickets after Hardik Pandya decided to bat first. As a result of their blunders in the previous game, Punjab was able to complete the chase in just 16 overs, which is a significant improvement over their previous performance.
It was Dhawan’s third half-century of the season and Sri Lankan Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s (40 off 28) entertaining display of five fours and one six that put the hosts in command.
Since Dhawan was a senior member of the team and was tasked with ending the game, he did so with aplomb.
Skipper Mayank Agarwal tried to bring Jonny Bairstow (1) to the top of the order by relegating himself, but it didn’t work.
Nevertheless, Punjab’s 87-run stand between Dhawan and Rajapaksa, both left-handed, clinched a comfortable victory.
At the end of the chase, Liam Livingstone (30 not out) unleashed a barrage of sixes on Mohammad Shami, including a monster 117-meter one over a deep square leg. Additionally, the 16th over’s 30 runs boosted PBKS’ net run rate.
With just five victories and five losses this season, Punjab needed this victory more than any other.
A timely wake-up call for Gujarat, who are poised to make the playoffs, was provided by this defeat. On Tuesday, they didn’t have anyone to help them out of difficult situations.
Prior to Sai Sudharsan’s undefeated 65 off 50 balls, Punjab’s bowlers only allowed 11 fours and two sixes to Gujarat.
As a result of Hardik Pandya’s decision to bat rather than a bowl, Sudarsan managed to score five boundaries and a six, but he ran out of partners.
For a low price, they had to let go of starters Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha. In the third over, Rishi Dhawan struck Gill from cover for a direct hit, ending Gill’s innings.
At mid-off, Mayank Agarwal was given a chance by Saha, who had been aggressive in the first over, and Rabada (4/33) took his maiden wicket. In an attempt to play a lofted shot but mistime it, Saha was undone by the extra bounce and paid the price.
As a result of Rishi Dhawan’s early dismissal of Hardik (1), Gujarat fell to 44/3. If Jitesh Sharma had not nicked Hardik’s outside off-length ball, his team would have been in real danger of losing a wicket.
Sudharsan and David Miller (11) then tried to resuscitate the innings, but they were able to score only 23 runs in 30 balls.
After Liam Livingstone (1/15) dismissed Miller, who miscued a lofted drive to be caught by Rabada at long-off, the stakes were raised to 67/4.
When Sudharshan pulled Livingstone for his maiden boundary in the 11th over, he tried to shift gears, but he couldn’t free his arms frequently.
By dismissing Rahul Tewatia (11) and Rashid Khan (0) back-to-back balls in the 17th over, Rabada had Gujarat reeling at 112/6.
Remarkable performance: Rabada smashed Lockie Ferguson atop the order (5).
Sandeep Sharma (0/17), Arshdeep Singh (1/35), Rahul Chahar (0/11), and Livingstone also performed admirably for Punjab.
