With their eighth win of the season, the table-top Titans cemented their top spot in the table as they now have 16 points from 11 games, three more than second-placed Chennai Super Kings (13 from 11 games). LSG suffered their fifth loss, but remained in third place in the points standings with 11 points in 11 games.
How it happened: Gujarat Titans vs Lucknow Super Giants
First, the Titans posted a mammoth 227 for 2 riding superb batting displays from their openers Shubman Gill (94 not out) and Wriddhiman Saha (81) as the duo added 142 runs to lay the foundation for the grand total.
The Titans bowlers then stopped LSG at 171 for 7 in their 20 overs to record the big win.
Chasing 228, LSG worked his way up to a strong 102 for one at the halfway point, but wheels finally came off, with GT pinning the batsmen with tight overs.
Despite Quinton de Kock’s brilliant 70 in his first game this season and Kyle Mayers’ spirited 48 at the top, LSG’s middle order crumbled against a mountainous chase to concede the contest.
LSG cleared 50 runs off target in just four overs with Mayers and de Kock finding momentum.
While Mayers started with three successive fours off Hardik Pandya in the second over, Mohammad Shami’s third produced 19 runs with de Kock hitting a pair of fours and Mayers hitting a six and a four.
Mayers was also harsh on Rashid Khan in the fifth, hitting him for a six and a four to pick up 14 runs as LSG reached 72 without losses after the powerplay.
LSG captain Krunal Pandya, left, goes to congratulate GT captain Hardik Pandya on his victory. (AP Photo)
However, a brilliant catch by Rashid in the ninth broke LSG’s opening position at 88.
The Afghan player covered a distance of 26 meters from deep square leg and managed to hold the ball as it dived to his right, breaking free of Mayers for 48 off 32 balls (7×4, 2×6) from Mohit Sharma.
But de Kock continued to flourish, hitting Hardik hard at midwicket for a six to take LSG to 102 for one at the half.
The horror of this IPL, meanwhile, continued for Deepak Hooda (11) who could only get into double figures for the third time in 10 innings but hit a full bowl from Shami straight to deep midwicket.
LSG failed to hit a single four in the overs 11-14 as Gujarat took control.
Marcus Stoinis (4) gave up with Mohit catching him off third man short in the 15th over.
LSG fluttered further as Rashid cleared de Kock for a good 70, getting 41 balls off three sixes and seven fours, while Nicholas Pooran (3) fell to Noor Ahmad.
Earlier, Gill’s unbeaten 94 and Saha’s brutal 81 took the Gujarat Titans to 227 for two, the fourth-highest total this season.
Saha and Gill went hammer and gravy from the start to add 142 runs for first wicket in just 12.1 overs, setting the franchise record for highest partnership for any wicket, as LSG was given no let up despite fielding eight bowlers in the offense.
It was also the second best stand by any team and by any wicket in this IPL, while for the Gujarat Titans, the total was the highest ever in the IPL since their debut last season.
Saha hit a total of four sixes and 10 fours to make his 43-ball runs, while Gill finished close to what would have been a stunning first IPL century, hitting seven sixes and two fours in his 51-ball shot.
The Gujarat Titans also improved on their overall record for most runs in the powerplay.
After scoring 65 against Chennai Super Kings here in the season opener the Saha-Gill pairing went ballistic to add 78 runs in the first six overs, scoring at 13 runs per over.
Saha came off blocks quickly to pressure the visiting bowlers, hitting Mohsin Khan for a pair of fours and Avesh Khan for a six and a four in the first two overs of the innings.
The Gujarat wicketkeeper’s batsman continued with his assault on Mohsin in the left-arm second over, hitting him for a pair of sixes and fours each to take the defending champions over the 50-run limit in four overs.
Gill, hitherto stable at the other end, hit a six off Krunal Pandya and in the last over of the powerplay, Saha bowled her fifty from just 20 balls with a six off Yash Thakur.
Saha and Gill’s century stand came in ninth over himself with the latter hitting Ravi Bishnoi inside out for a six over cover.
Saha looked poised for his second IPL century – his first came nine years ago in the 2014 IPL – but a sharp catch at deep midwicket from substitute Prerak Mankad off Avesh ended his onslaught.
GT captain Hardik Pandya made a comfortable cameo as he hit two fours and a six to make 15 off 25 balls. David Miller hit a pair of fours and a six to make 21 not out off 12 balls.
(With inputs from PTI)
Clock GT vs LSG IPL 2023 Highlights: Gill, Saha help Gujarat win battle of brothers
