Tata IPL 2022
#TATAIPL2022: Qualifier 1 : Gujarat Titans Power Their Way To Final, David Miller Fashions Impressive 7 Wicket Win Over Rajasthan Royals
In their dream debut in the IPL, Gujarat Titans powered their way to the final of the Tata IPL 2022 as they beat Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 1 at Eden Gardens , Kolkata by 7 wickets.
GT skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and decided to field first. The Royals lost Yashasvi Jaiswal early for ( 3). After few low scores in some matches orange cap holder Jos Buttler found his touch again. And Buttler was again impressive as he smashed a 56 ball 89 ( 12 fours , 2 sixes). Skipper Sanju Samson was unlucky to miss a fifty and score big as he fell for a attacking 26 ball 47 ( 5 fours , 3 sixes) . Devdutt Padikkal ( 28), Shimron Hetmyer ( 4 ), Riyan Parag ( 4) dismissals meant Royals could not finish on a high . Royals could manage 188/ 6 in their 20 overs. Rashid Khan was superb and tied the RR batsmen with his wily leg spin and it proved decisive at the end
For GT the bowling figures read : Mohammed Shami 1/ 43 ( 4 overs), Yash Dayal 1/ 46 (4 overs), Alzarri Joseph 0/ 27 ( 2 overs), Rashid Khan 0/ 15 (4 overs) , Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore 1/ 43 ( 4 overs), Hardik Pandya 1/ 14 ( 2 overs)
In reply , GT was rocked early with Wriddhiman Saha dismissed by a beauty from Trent Boult in the second ball in the first over for 0. But Aussie Matthew Wade 30 ball 35 ( 6 fours) and Shubman Gill 21 ball 35 ( 5 fours, 1 six) put the Titans on track for the final . Gill was unfortunately run- out in mix up with Wade. GT did not suffer any jitters as GT skipper Hardik Pandya not out with a responsible 27 ball ball 40 ( 5 fours) kept the chase momentum. The big hitting South African David Miller however proved to be the game changer as he hit blistering unbeaten 38 ball 68 ( 3 fours and 5 sixes) to seal the match in GT favour. GT finishing at 191/ 3 in 19.3 overs.
Needing 16 off the final over from Prasidh Krishna, the imperious Miller smashed three sixes in a row to book Gujarat’s place in Sunday’s final at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad.
For RR the bowling figures were : Trent Boult 1/38 (4 overs), Prasidh Krishna 0/ 40 ( 3.3 overs), the spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin )/ 40 ( 4 overs) and Yuzvendra Chahal 0/ 32 ( 4 overs) did not impress and both went for runs it cost the Royals hard. Obed McCoy struggled with his line and wide balls 1/ 40 ( 4 overs).
For the Royals despite the loss now get a second chance to reach final as they meet the winner of the Lucknow Super Giants and the Royal Challengers match.