A clinical batting performance from the Gujarat Titans’ middle order helped it register a seven-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday and move into the top four of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) .
Impact substitute Sai Sudharsan scored 45 off 36 balls while David Miller contributed 44 not out off 27 balls, as Gujarat finished on 168-3 in 19.1 overs.
The Sunrisers, who had scored the highest ever total of 277-3 in franchise T20 cricket in their last outing against Mumbai Indians, were restricted to 162-8 in 20 overs. Medium pacer Mohit Sharma took 3-25 in four overs.
Opting to bat first, Hyderabad made a comparatively brisk start with openers Mayank Agarwal (16) and Travis Head (19) putting on 34 off 26 balls for the first wicket.
Gujarat’s pacers did much of the hard work in restricting Hyderabad’s progress. Sharma sent back hard hitting youngster Abhishek Sharma for 29 off 20 balls.
Umesh Yadav then dismissed Aiden Markram (17) as the Sunrisers failed to generate enough momentum in their innings.
The big blow came when wrist spinner Rashid Khan bowled hard-hitting Heinrich Klaasen for 24 off 13 balls. He had already hit two sixes but Hyderabad was down to 108-4 in 13.4 overs.
Shahbaz Ahmed (22) and Abdul Samad (29) generated some momentum in the death overs, adding 45 off 28 balls for the sixth wicket, before the former was out caught off Sharma. Impact sub Washington Sundar was then out caught for a golden duck as Hyderabad limped to a below-par total.
In reply, the Titans made another quick start thanks to Wriddhiman Saha, who scored 25 off 13 balls including two sixes. Skipper Shubman Gill scored 36 off 28 balls, as the duo put on 36 off 25 balls before Saha holed out. Gill added 38 runs with Sudharsan for the second wicket, before falling – caught at long on.
Gujarat Titans were already in a good position at 74-2 in 9.1 overs when Sudharsan and Miller came together. They added 64 off 42 balls and never relinquished control of the game, despite Pat Cummins’ spell of 1-28 in four overs.
The Australia and Hyderabad skipper stretched the game into the final over after dismissing Sudharsan. But Miller stayed put along with Vijay Shankar (14 not out) to register the Titans’ second win in three games.
Delhi Capitals takes on table-topping Chennai Super Kings in the day’s second game at Visakhapatnam.
