Navi Mumbai, Apr 14:
Skipper Hardik Pandya enhanced his reputation as a number four batter with an unbeaten 87 off 52 balls as Gujarat Titans trounced Rajasthan Royals by 37 runs in the Indian Premier League here on Thursday.
Hardik, whose strike rate and approach has been questioned at his new position, played responsibly when it was needed before displaying the power he is known for to lead Titans to 192 for four after being sent into bat.
The in form Jos Buttler (54 off 24) provided another flying start to Royals but the rest of the batting unit did not deliver as the innings ended at 155 for nine in 20 overs.
Young left-arm pacer Yash Dayal (3/40) impressed on IPL debut while Lockie Ferguson (3/23)) got the important wicket of Buttler, who was deceived by the New Zealander’s slow yorker after a series of quick deliveries.
Ferguson also dismissed Ravichandran Ashwin in the same over after the senior India spinner was promoted to bat at number three.
The other notable contribution to Royals’ innings came from Shimron Hetmyer (29 off 17). From 56 for one, Royals slipped to 90 for five and could not recover from there on.
Hardik, who has been bowling regularly this season, also picked up a wicket but he took himself off the attack in the 18th over after feeling a little discomfort in the groin area.
With their fourth win in five games, Titans displaced Royals from the top of the points table. It was Royals’ second loss in five games.
Earlier, Hardik found an able ally in Abhinav Manohar (43 off 28) before he exploded in the company of David Miller (31 not out off 14) to power the IPL debutants to their highest score of the tournament.
Hardik and Manohar shared an 86-run stand for the fourth wicket before the skipper and Miller blasted 53 off 25 balls to end the innings in style.
After being put in to bat, Gujarat found themselves reeling at 53 for three.
While Hardik’s 52-ball knock was studded with eight fours and four sixes, Manohar struck four fours and two maximums.
Miller, who overall hit five boundaries and a six, fetched 21 runs in the penultimate over off Kuldeep Sen (1/51).
Scoreboard
Gujarat Titans:
Matthew Wade run out (van der Dussen) 12
Shubman Gill c Hetmyer b Parag 13
Vijay Shankar c Samson b Sen 2
Hardik Pandya not out 87
Abhinav Manohar c Ashwin b Chahal 43
David Miller not out 31
Extras: (NB-1, W-3) 4
Total: (For 4 wickets in 20 overs) 192
Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-15, 3-53, 4-139
Bowling: James Neesham 3-0-29-0, Prasidh Krishna 4-0-35-0, Kuldeep Sen 4-0-51-1, Yuzvendra Chahal 4-0-32-1, Riyan Parag 1-0-12-1, Ravichandran Ashwin 4-0-33-0.
Rajasthan Royals:
Jos Buttler b Ferguson 54
Devdutt Padikkal c Shubman Gill b Yash Dayal 0
Ravichandran Ashwin c Miller b Ferguson 8
Sanju Samson run out (Pandya) 11
Rassie van der Dussen c Wade b Yash Dayal 6
Shimron Hetmyer c Tewatia b Mohammed Shami 29
Riyan Parag c Shubman Gill b Ferguson 18
James Neesham c & b Pandya 17
Prasidh Krishna not out 4
Yuzvendra Chahal c Shankar b Yash Dayal 5
Kuldeep Sen not out 0
Extras: (LB-1, W-2) 3
Total: (For 9 wickets in 20 overs) 155
Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-56, 3-65, 4-74, 5-90, 6-116, 7-138, 8-147, 9-155
Bowling: Mohammed Shami 4-0-39-1, Yash Dayal 4-0-40-3, Rashid Khan 4-0-24-0, Lockie Ferguson 4-0-23-3, Rahul Tewatia 1-0-9-0, Hardik Pandya 2.3-0-18-1, Vijay Shankar 0.3-0-1-0. (PTI)
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