(CMC) – Shimron Hetmyer’s Rajasthan Royals tasted their first defeat of the new Indian Premier League season when the Gujarat Titans pulled off a stunning last-ball heist to win by three wickets yesterday.
Needing two runs off the final delivery in pursuit of 197 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Rashid Khan (24 not out) smashed seamer Avesh Khan to the point boundary to earn the Titans their third win in six matches this season.
For the Royals, the defeat was their first in five outings, leaving them still top of the standings by eight points.
Sent in, the Royals mustered an impressive 196 for three of their 20 overs, with Riyan Parag top-scoring with 76 off 48 balls and Captain Sanju Samson getting 68 off 38 balls.
Together, the pair plundered 130 for the third wicket, with Parag clobbering three fours and five sixes and Samson counting seven fours and a brace of sixes.
When Parag perished in the penultimate over, Hetmyer entered to belt a four and a six in scoring 13 not out off five balls, as he put on 24 with Samson in an unbroken fourth wicket partnership.
In reply, Captain Shubman Gill lashed 72 from 34 deliveries to inspire a 64-run, opening the stand with Sai Sudharsan (35) before falling in the 16th over with still much work to do.
However, Rahul Tewartia (22) added 24 for the sixth wicket with M Shahrukh Khan (14) and then a crucial 38 for the seventh with Rashid Khan to seal a dramatic win.
