The Gujarat Titans (GT) won a last-over thriller in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by eight runs yesterday at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
Hardik Pandya led from the front and anchored Gujarat Titans to a competitive total of 156-9.
Chasing 157, KKR lost two early wickets those of openers Sam Billings and Sunil Narine who were sent back to the hut by Mohammad Shami.
Nitish Rana was the next man to be dismissed after the left-handed batter was caught behind off Lockie Ferguson’s bowling.
KKR were 34-3 at the end of the powerplay before Shreyas Iyer was caught behind as Yash Dayal picked his first wicket of the innings.
The 50 was up for KKR in the eighth over as Rinku Singh and Venkatesh Iyer kept the runs ticking.
Singh hit four fours and a six before the left-handed batter was caught behind off Yash Dayal, who scalped his second wicket of the innings.
Andre Russell was caught at fine-leg but the all-rounder survived after Dayal over-stepped in the 13thover.
Russell later smacked two sixes but Iyer was dismissed at the other end after the left-handed batter held out to the deep off Rashid Khan’s bowling and Abhinav Manohar took a sharp catch in the outfield.
KKR required 50 off the final five before Rashid Khan castled Shivam Mavi to claim his second wicket.
Shami conceded only eight runs in the 17th over and KKR required 37 off 18 deliveries.
Both Umesh Yadav and Russell hit a six each to bring the equation down to 18 off six deliveries.
Russell smacked a six on the first ball before Ferguson took a brilliant running catch to dismiss the all-rounder as GT defended the total to win the game by eight runs.
Earlier, GT opted to bat first and skipper Pandya was back in the 11. KKR claimed an early wicket that of Shubman Gill, who was caught behind, down the leg side.
The pressure of an early wicket didn’t affect GT after Pandya and Wriddhiman Saha batted aggressively and GT were 47-1 after six overs.
GT skipper introduced the ramp shot into the play for a maximum against Shivam Mavi and later lofted Chakaravarthy for a six in the eighth over.
GT were 78-1 before Umesh Yadav put an end to the partnership dismissing Saha, who was caught at backward point for 25.
Skipper Pandya reached his half-century for the third consecutive time in the season and GT crossed the 100-run mark in the 13th over.
David Miller slammed two sixes and a four and GT were 127/2 with five overs to go. Mavi, back to bowl his third over, removed Miller for 27.
Southee struck twice in his final over to remove the dangerous Pandya followed by a crucial wicket of Rashid Khan.
Russell bowled the final over of the innings and claimed four wickets which helped KKR restrict GT to 156/9.
Brief Scores: Gujarat Titans 156/9 (Hardik Pandya 67, David Miller 27; Andre Russell 4-5) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 148/8 (Andre Russell 48, Rinku Singh 35; Mohammad Shami 2-20) by 8 runs.
