Ahmedabad: Gujarat Titans (GT) fortified their record at the Narendra Modi Stadium here on Sunday with a seven-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Match 12 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.
A good effort by the bowlers, coupled with a combined effort by the batting unit, ensured GT’s second win of the 2024 season.
On a warm afternoon in Ahmedabad, SRH captain Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bat first. Fresh from their recent heroics, which resulted in the record team score at the Tata IPL, SRH were confident walking in to face the GT bowling. In comparison to the match at Hyderabad, SRH had a steadier start and did not race away in the powerplay.
While Travis Head continued to attack, Mayank Agarwal was more watchful and was ultimately dismissed in the fifth over when he tried to flick Azmatullah Omarzai over backward square-leg. Abhishek Sharma, too, was aggressive and welcomed Rashid Khan into the attack with two sixes in the last over of the powerplay. Post the powerplay, Head was dismissed for 19 when Noor Ahmad bowled him while attempting a slog.
The interesting thing about the SRH innings was that GT kept picking wickets at regular intervals, although the batters got starts and showed flashes of aggression. The highest partnership of the innings was 45 for the sixth wicket, between Abdul Samad and Shahbaz Ahmed – which provided some impetus towards the end.
However, none of the SRH batters crossed 30, with Abhishek and Samad being the joint top scorers with 29 each. As many as four batters got into the 20s. Mohit Sharma was the pick of the bowlers for GT, with three for 25 in his four overs, which included back-to-back scalps in the last over. This played a major role in keeping SRH to 162.
GT were up against a target of 163 and were powered to a good start by Wriddhiman Saha. The wicketkeeper-batter unleashed his usual array of shots in the powerplay, picking his angles and clearing the in-field.
The highlight was a six over mid-wicket off Jaydev Unadkat. Shahbaz, the left-arm spinner, was brought on during the powerplay and gave SRH their first breakthrough in his second over when Saha tried to clear mid-on but only found the fielder. Sai Sudharsan walked in at No. 3 as an Impact Player replacing Mohit.
GT moved along steadily towards the total with him and Shubman Gill in the middle. Gill picked up pace after Saha’s dismissal and played some attacking shots. He lofted Shahbaz with ease over wide long-off for his first six. Sudharsan started confidently with a well-timed flick through mid-wicket off Bhuveshwar.
In tandem, they added another 38 as the first time out dawned. But, soon after the break, Gill was dismissed when he tried to clear long-on off Mayank Markande. GT promoted David Miller to No. 4 to manage the chase with his experience and stitch a partnership with the promising Sudharsan.
To start with, they rotated strike and didn’t take any unwanted risks. Going into the last five overs, GT needed 49. SRH would have held on to hope, after all their opponents defended a similar margin last week against MI at the same venue. Those hopes were dashed as Miller and Sudharsan attacked Markande in the 16th over, picking up 24 runs.
Miller cleared the fence twice in trademark style, and Sudharsan picked one over long on and sent it into the crowd. This came at a time when Miller was seemingly hampered by injury and was also attended to by the GT physio. Sudharsan fell soon after for 45 as he hit Cummins straight to mid-wicket. However, by then, the required rate was down to a run-a-ball.
Vijay Shankar and Miller finished the job with five balls to spare, moving along to the total with composure. Miller sealed the deal with a six over long-off, remaining unbeaten on 44.