Gujarat Titans (GT) secured a four-wicket victory against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a thrilling last-over finish at Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, propelled by a four-wicket haul from Jason Holder and crucial innings from Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar.
With this result, GT moved to sixth place with six wins and four losses, accumulating 12 points, while PBKS remain at the top of the table with six wins, two losses, and one no result, totaling 13 points.
GT captain Shubman Gill won the toss and chose to field first. The PBKS innings featured a significant 79-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Marcus Stoinis, who scored 40 runs from 31 balls including five fours and a six, and Suryansh Shedge, who made 57 from 29 balls with three fours and five sixes. Despite this, PBKS were restricted to 163 for nine in their 20 overs, as Holder claimed 4 for 24, while Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj took two wickets each.
The GT chase began poorly, losing Shubman Gill for five runs to Arshdeep Singh caught by Cooper Connolly, leaving the team 12 for one after 1.3 overs. Jos Buttler and Sai Sudharsan then steadied the innings with a 57-run partnership, bringing the score to 58 for one after six overs. Sudharsan reached his fifty in 37 balls, aided by five fours and a six.
GT lost wickets regularly thereafter, with Sudharsan dismissed by Vijaykumar Vyshak for 57 from 41 balls. The team was 124 for four at 14.5 overs. Washington Sundar contributed an unbeaten 40 from 23 balls, including five fours and a six, to see GT through to victory with one ball remaining, finishing at 167 for six.
In the bowling, Arshdeep Singh took two wickets for 24 runs, while Vyshak also took two for 31 for PBKS.
GT’s pace attack, comprising Jason Holder, Kagiso Rabada, and Mohammed Siraj, was instrumental in restricting PBKS. Siraj made an immediate impact with two wickets in his first over, dismissing Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly. Rabada broke a 33-run partnership by removing Prabhsimran Singh, and Holder further dismantled the PBKS batting with multiple key wickets.
Despite Shreyas Iyer’s 19 runs from 21 balls striving to stabilize the innings, PBKS lost half their side for 51 runs within ten overs. The innings revival came through Shedge and Stoinis, whose 79-run stand injected momentum before Shedge was caught by Bartlett off Rabada.
Holder’s double strike in the 18th over dismissed Stoinis and Xavier Bartlett in consecutive overs. Marco Jansen added 20 runs from 11 balls with a four and six, but PBKS closed their innings at 163 for nine.
Brief scores: PBKS 163/9 (Suryansh Shedge 57, Marcus Stoinis 40; Jason Holder 4/24) lost to GT 167/6 (Sai Sudharsan 57, Washington Sundar 40*; Arshdeep Singh 2/24).
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