- Monday, May 06, 2024
An unbeaten 43-run partnership off just 22 balls towards the end between Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma saw the visiting team snatch an unlikely victory to end Gujarat’s dominance at home.
By: Shubham Ghosh
PUNJB KINGS (PBKS) on Thursday (4) defeated Gujarat Titans (GT) by three wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to go up the points table.
Two uncapped Indian players — Shashank Singh (61 not out off 29 balls) and Ashutosh Sharma (31 not out off 17) added 43 runs in just 22 balls towards the end as the visiting side overhauled the target of 200 in 20 overs. The loss also saw an end to GT’s dominance this season at home, where they defeated Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad before. The chase was also the highest successful one in this season of the IPL.
Afghan left-arm spinner Noor Ahmed was the most successful of the Gujarat bowlers with two wickets.
The home team, however, looked favourites to pocket the game till Singh and Sharma changed it towards the end. Powered by an unbeaten 89 off 48 balls by captain Shubman Gill, Gujarat posted a formidable 199 for 4 in their 20 overs after Punjab captain Shikhar Dhawan won the toss and elected to bowl.
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Sai Sudarshan made 33 off 19, Kane Williamson 26 off 22 while Rahul Tewatia made a brisk 8-ball 23 to take GT’s score near to 200. South African pacer Kagiso Rabada took two wickets for Punjab.
Punjab did not have their best of starts, getting reduced to 70 for 4 in the ninth over. Singh then held the fort together and put up some crucial partnerships — 41 with Sikandar Raza (15) and 39 with Jitesh Sharma (16) before the all-important one with Ashutosh. Poor catching and bowling by GT also helped their effort to take GT home with one ball to spare.
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Singh’s name made the headlines for the wrong reason during the IPL auction in December last year. Punjab had denied buying the cricketer despite the hammer banging. They clarified later that there was some confusion since two players had the same name. Singh is playing in just his second season and the unbeaten 61 was his maiden fifty in the tournament. He hit four sixes and six fours in his knock.
Singh was named the player of the match.
The win saw Punjab tying with Gujarat in terms of points (four from four) but were placed ahead due to a better net run rate.
