Rashid Khan and Shubman Gill help Gujarat Titans Storm into the play-offs 

Shubman Gill of Gujarat Titans scored an unbeaten half-century to take his team close to the 150-runs mark. Successively, Rashid Khan took responsibility for the second innings and powered Lucknow Super Giants’ 82 runs collapse at the MCA Stadium in Pune.

Shubman Gill stars for a struggling Gujarat Titans

Gujarat Titan’s skipper, Hardik Pandya, won the toss and decided to bat first. The opening pair of Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill then went about their business.

However, Gujarat Titans lost their first wicket in the third over itself, after Saha was caught at the mid-on at only five off 11 balls. 

Matthew Wade came up to join Gill, but he departed early after scoring two quick boundaries. Avesh Khan struck in his first over as Wade tried to scoop one over, departing for ten off seven balls in the fifth over. 

After Wade, Hardik Pandya joined the attack and tried to stabilize the innings after Gujarat Titans slumped to 24/2 in five overs. Pandya and Gill attempted to build a stable partnership but could not keep that for long as the former departed in the tenth over. 

Pandya nicked one back to Quinton de Kock at 11 off 13 after sharing a 27-runs partnership for the third wicket. 

While wickets kept falling on the other end, Gill kept his calm and stood firmly at the crease, keeping the runs going.

Gujarat brought up their 100 in the sixteenth over after David Miller finally decided to hit a maximum off Jason Holder, the first one of the innings. However, that happiness was short-lived as Miller was removed on the last delivery of the same over at 26 runs off 24 balls.

Gujarat’s signature finisher Rahul Tewatia joined Gill, going about his business en route to a half-century. Gill and Tewatia decided to pick up the pace with four overs left.

Gill was able to bring up his fifty in the seventeenth over with a single on Dushmantha Chameera’s bowling. After getting his half-century, Gill took an aggressive stance and hit Chameera for two successive boundaries.

Rahul Tewatia (22 off 16 balls) also joined the party in the last over and smashed Jason Holder for three boundaries to score 144/4.

Rashid Khan makes quick work of Lucknow Super Giants.

Lucknow bowlers dismissed Gujarat Titans for a modest score; however, the batting lineup couldn’t compliment it and showcased one of their worst performances yet.

The opening pair of KL Rahul (8 off 16) and Quinton de Kock (11 off ten balls) were sent back to the dugout in successive overs. Newcomer Karan Sharma couldn’t do much as Lucknow slumped to 33/3 in the power play overs. 

Lucknow was settling after three quick dismissals with Krunal Pandya and Deepak Hooda on the crease. Meanwhile, Rashid Khan was introduced into the balling and showed results quickly, getting Krunal Pandya on his third delivery.

Lucknow Super Giants could not recover from the early damage and could never find the ground to create momentum for their team. They reached 58 runs in the first ten overs, and after the highest scorer Deepak Hooda (27 off 26 balls), was removed from the crease, all went downhill for Lucknow. 

The upstarts were restricted to 82 runs, with Rashid Khan clinching the last wicket, too, taking his tally to 4/24.

Gujarat Titans snapped Lucknow Super Giants’ 5 matches winning streak to become the first team in IPL 2022 to qualify for the play-offs. However, it is not alarming for the Lucknow Super Giants as they need one more win to seal their berth.

Lucknow will now face Rajasthan Royals on May 15, and Gujarat Titans will take on Chennai Super Kings on the same day too.