Puno, May 10: Shubman Gill (63 not out) hit half a century of fighting, but clinical bowling, especially by pacemakers Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan and Krunal Pandya, helped Lucknow Super Giants restrict Gujarat Titans to 144/4 under the par in 20 overs in Match. 57 of IPL 2022 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium here on Tuesday.
In the crucial clash from the top of the table, Gill fought a lonely battle as other Gujarat batsmen found things difficult after captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and chose to bat first. Pandya wanted to test the ability of his batsmen to prepare a good total. While Gill passed that test with flying colors, others fell short.
Gill, who completed his half century in 42 deliveries, managed his innings well to remain unbeaten on 63 of 49 deliveries, hitting seven fours. He had two vital partnerships: 52 with David Miller (26) for fourth wicket and 41 unbeaten runs for fifth with Rahul Tewatia (22 not eliminated) as Gujarat failed to break the shackles against disciplined bowling Lucknow Super Giants.
For Lucknow Super Giants, Avesh Khan finished at 2/26 while Mohsin Khan 1/18 from four overs and Krunal Pandya 0/24 from his quota applied Gujarat innings breaks.
The quality of the bowling can be gauged by the fact that Gujarat could only manage a six and only 15 limits in 20 overs.
Gill kept the Gujarat Titans innings together as he held one end up after the Lucknow Super Giants dealt early blows.
Gujarat went 35/2 in Powerplay, their lowest total through the first six overs in IPL 2022 so far. They found it difficult when the Lucknow bowlers, especially their mid-paced bowlers, bowled super line and length, short in length and on the stumps.
With batting in the field a bit difficult as the ball was caught and slowly coming off the surface, Gujarat landed in trouble losing Wriddhiman Saha and Matthew Wade with 24 runs on the scoreboard. Young left-arm pacer Mohsin Khan launched a brilliant run of three overs as he troubled batsmen with his line, length and the angles he created.
Saha was out trying to increase the scoring rate, after hitting a four off Dushmantha Chameera, he was out for five, caught by Mohsin Khan’s Avesh Khan, overcoming a cut leg midway through.
Matthew Wade hit two successive bounds off Chameera but was eliminated in the next one over Avesh Khan for 10 and when captain Hardik Pandya (11) sliced a shot short and wide on Avesh Khan’s first throw after the strategic first break, only to get ahead of Quinton de Kock again, Gujarat were in trouble, down to 51/3 in the 10th.
Gill hit Chamera for limits on successive balls and in the 17th over. He also reverse-swept Krunal Pandya for a four and hit Avesh Khan at the fence in the 10th over.
David Miller and Gill helped Gujarat bounce back with a 52-run partnership for fourth wicket. They played carefully, didn’t take too many risks, and dealt mainly one-to-one and two-to-two. Both of Miller’s limits, a four and a six, came off Jason Holder: all four of a short, wide one that was sliced with smooth hands to beat the sweeper, and all six over the extra coverage of a full, wide one that was squashed. . on extra cover.
But Holder had the last laugh when he caught Miller with a short, wide, slower punch that the batter sliced into the deep third man’s throat. Rahul Tewatia hit some hard shots towards the end of the innings, hitting four bounds on his 22-for-16 and not out as Gujarat hit a sub-par score that can prove difficult to defend.
Short scores: Gujarat Titans 144/4 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 63 outs, David Miller 26, Rahul Tewatia 22 outs; Avesh Khan 2/26) vs. Lucknow Super Giants.