Titans script a thrilling twist to end Royals' winning run
Shubman Gill set up the chase but it looked like Royals had wrested control, until Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan came together
Shubman Gill set up the chase but it looked like Royals had wrested control, until Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan came together
Scorer: K Vairavan | Commentator: Shashwat Kumar
12:15am Phew. That was a game and a half. And guess what? It only gets better tomorrow. The Mumbai Indians will be taking on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and both of them will be aiming for their second win this season. Do join us for that game too. Until then, this is goodbye from all of us here at ESPNcricinfo. Goodnight and take care!
Rashid Khan, Player of the Match: (What pleased him more, his bowling or his batting) Well, most pleasing was winning the game. Was struggling a bit with the bowling and was happy I was hitting the right areas today, and that made me happier, and gave me energy in my batting. I have not bowled much in the last three-four months and just trying to get used to bowling again, getting that feel back in my fingers. I just lost a little bit of grip. Had a good session before the last game and that really helped me, and I felt I was a little bit back to my best. Enjoyed today. (On chasing a high run-rate) It is just a matter of hitting three or four sixes and that brings the run-rate down. You just have to be positive. The more positive you are thinking inside, the better the result comes out.
Shubman Gill, Gujarat Titans captain: We were targeting 45 in three overs and that is very much gettable, and that was the mindset. Mathematically, it is like both batters need to score 9-ball 22 runs or so and if one of the batters goes berserk, it will get over 2-3 balls prior. (On the Impact Player rule) It does make a difference if you have an extra batter. But it is just the mindset to make it easier and simpler. I would have loved to finish the game but very happy with the way Rashid bhai and Rahul bhai finished the game. Last game also, we dominated more than 50% but our bad phases were very bad. Winning the game off the last ball is a wonderful feeling. He (Rashid) is such a fantastic player, someone you always want in your team. When GT is playing, don't think that (we have left ourselves too much to do).
Sanju Samson, Rajasthan Royals captain: (On where they lost) The last ball of the game (laughs). To be honest, it is very hard to speak at this moment. The captain has the hardest job in the league to speak after losing the game and to tell where we lost is tough. Maybe after a few hours, I can tell. You have to give credit to the Gujarat Titans the way they batted, bowled and fielded. We will learn from this and move on. (On the score) When I was batting, I thought something around 180 would be a fighting score. I thought 197 was a winning score. There was no dew and the wicket was a bit dry and low. With our bowling attack, we should have done it but they batted well. It was not easy to go hard enough at the start of our innings. We paced our innings well. 197 at Jaipur, without dew, you will take it any day.
Sai Sudharsan: We gave a few runs extra in the first innings but we pulled off a great game. (On their approach) Getting a good powerplay was one of our plans. It was a par powerplay. Then we lost a few wickets back-to-back. But we had belief and we won the game. The wicket was not that easy to bat on but it got a little better after the first innings, so it was easier for our hitters to smash a few shots. This victory was much-needed for us and gives us momentum. Hopefully we play a few more good games and have a good season.
11:47pm And...breathe. Back to back thrillers, and this was perhaps even better then yesterday, just because of how far behind the Titans seemed when about five overs were left. They needed 73 off 30, and used all 30 of those balls to get past the finish line.
Rashid iced the cake, showing off his range of stroke-play, even as the pressure was amped up. Tewatia did his bit too, scoring 22 off 11. The chase, though, was set up by GT's skipper, who played several astounding strokes en route a 44-ball 72. And this win, given the circumstances it has come in, should reinvigorate the Titans' campaign.
As for the Royals, they will feel they have let one slip here. Their decision to give Boult just two overs was also surprising, as was the call to bowl Ashwin the 17th. His last two overs went for 30, and that was when the Titans began turning the screw.
Chahal bagged two wickets but was expensive. Avesh, too, gave away 48 in his four overs. Sen appeared to have stolen the headlines with his three-wicket burst in the middle overs, but when he came back at the death, he conceded 20, which then allowed GT to complete their turnaround in the final over.
Rashid on strike. Two needed off the final ball
R Tewatia run out 22 (42m 11b 3x4 0x6) SR: 200.00
Avesh goes around the wicket. Long on, deep backward square leg, deep mid wicket and deep point on the fence
4 off 2. One hit to the fence will seal it for the Gujarat Titans. Avesh under pressure. The batters perhaps under pressure too. Who will blink first?
5 off 3 now. Surely GT's game to lose from here?
A long conference happening now between Avesh, Buttler and Samson. Long off, deep mid wicket, deep square leg and deep cover point on the fence. 11 needed off 5
Right. 15 needed off 6. This has been done before. Avesh to bowl. RR are five minutes behind, and they can have just four fielders on the fence now. All happening here in Jaipur
The Afghanistan allrounder might just have given the rest of the teams a warning that he is close to being back to his very best
Shubman Gill set up the chase but it looked like Royals had wrested control, until Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan came together
ESPNcricinfo commentary of the final moments of their incredible game against Rajasthan Royals
They took down a target of 197 against Rajasthan Royals
Rashid Khan has a stellar record against Royals batters, and that might give Titans some hope