Shikhar Dhawan cruised to his third IPL half-century of the season as he led Punjab Kings to an eight-wicket win over Gujarat Titans in their Tata Indian Premier League match at the DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai, on Tuesday night.
Dhawan was in imperious form as he stroked a majestic 62 off 53 balls and weaved brilliant partnerships with Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Liam Livingstone as Punjab sauntered to victory, capitalising on the brilliant work by their bowlers, led by Kagiso Rabada during Gujarat's innings.
Rabada was sensational as he took four wickets to help restrict the Gujarat Titans to 143 for eight in their innings. Rabada’s bowling figures of 4-33 earned him the Man of the Match award.
Gujarat won the toss and chose to bat first.
Punjab's plans to move Bairstow to the top of the order, his traditional role in the England squad, did not work as the Englishman was dismissed after facing six balls for his single run. Bairstow fell to Mohammed Shami's bowling.
After Bairstow's dismissal, Shikhar Dhawan and Bhanuka Rajapaksa constructed a match-winning 87-run partnership. Rajapaksa stroked a brilliant knock of 40 runs from 28 deliveries as he kept Dhawan company in the 9.2 overs that they batted together.
For a moment, it looked like the left-handed pair was going to bat through the innings, but the Sri Lankan batter was trapped lbw by Lockie Ferguson in the 11th over.
With their eye on the net run rate, Punjab elevated Liam Livingstone to No 4. The Englishman did not disappoint. The 28-year-old hit three sixes and two fours to wrap up the game in the 16th over.
Livingstone smashed one of the biggest sixes, 117 metres, at the start of that fateful over, and remained unbeaten on 30 from 10 balls.
Despite bowling the most extras, Lockie Ferguson was Gujarat's most successful bowler with one wicket from three overs at an economy of 9.66 runs an over. Mohammed Shami also bagged a single wicket, but at a run rate of 10.75 in four overs.
RESOLUTE SUDHARSAN
Earlier in the day, Gujarat were not at their usual best. Coming into this match, they had been dominant with the bat, winning eight of their nine matches. However, that dominance was absent on Tuesday night. Besides Sai Sudharsan, no one else showed up with the bat from Hardik Pandya's team.
Twenty-year-old Sudharsan hit five fours and a single six on his way to registering his maiden IPL half-century in only his fourth IPL match.
Sudharsan joined Wriddhiman Saha at the crease just as Shubman Gill departed at the end of the fourth over. The young left-hander watched wickets fall at the other end as he mounted a resolute 15-over vigil in an effort to lead his side to a respectable total.
Gujarat's innings did not go according to plan, despite a lively start by their openers. Opening batters, Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha raced to 17 runs in the first two overs, but their budding partnership was broken when Gill was run out by Rishi Dhawan taking a tight single.
Seventeen runs later, Gujarat were in more trouble when they lost their second wicket in the PowerPlay. Saha was the next man to head back to the pavilion for 21 off 17 balls as he was caught trying to clear mid-off.
Hardik Pandya and Sudharsan, relatively new batters at the crease, managed to guide Gujarat to the end of the PowerPlay without any further damage. They were on 42 for two after the PowerPlay, but unfortunately for them, their captain did not last long after the PowerPlay. Pandya had to depart after facing seven deliveries for his single run, dismissed by Rishi Dhawan.
KG ON SONG
Following Pandya's dismissal, Proteas star David Miller and Sudharsan faced 45 deliveries without scoring a boundary as they mounted a circumspect rebuild. After such an extended period without a boundary with Gujarat scoring at less than a run-a-ball, something had to give. Unfortunately for them, it was the wicket of Miller.
The South African was dismissed, caught by his fellow Proteas player, Rabada, while trying to clear the fielder stationed at long-off.
Rahul Tewatia, who has been good with the bat, especially at the death, was unable to score meaningful runs and fell to Rabada's bowling for 11 runs that came off 13 deliveries. Rabada was on song in his third over. The Proteas pacer dismissed new man Rashid Khan with his next delivery.
Tailenders Pradeep Sangwan, Alzarri Joseph and Lockie Ferguson contributed a total of 11 runs between them.
Rabada was Punjab's best bowler with another four-wicket haul in the tournament. The Proteas star took four wickets at an economy of 8.25 runs an over in his four overs. He was well supported by Arshdeep Singh, Rishi Dhawan and Livingstone, who all took one wicket each.
GUJARAT TITANS: Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Hardik Pandya (capt), David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Pradeep Sangwan, Alzarri Joseph, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Shami
PUNJAB KINGS: Mayank Agarwal (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Rishi Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Sandeep Sharma