Gujarat Titans romped to the fourth victory of the Indian Premier League 2022. They beat Rajasthan Royals by 32 runs at the D.Y. Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. For Gujarat, Lockie Ferguson (3-23) was the pick of the bowlers, while Hardik Pandya slammed an unbeaten 87 off just 52 balls.
The Royals crumbled after an explosive start from Jos Buttler, and were restricted to 159/9 while chasing 193. Buttler scored a 23-ball fifty, but the batters following him failed to capitalise on the start.
Gujarat Titans 192/4 in 20 overs
Jimmy Neesham, in his first match of the season, bowled the first over. Matthew Wade responded with three fours. However, Wade could not make the most of the start, as a bad call from Shubman Gill led to him being run out.
In the next over Gill fell cheaply to Riyan Parag, while Vijay Shankar's indifferent season continued. Pandya and Abhinav Manohar then forged a crucial partnership for the fourth wicket, both batters bringing regular boundaries to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Manohar was helped by erratic bowling from Yuzvendra Chahal. He struck two sixes and a four, but Chahal had the last laugh when he had Manohar caught by R. Ashwin. Soo after reaching his fifty, Pandya launched two successive sixes off Ashwin. He was helped by David Miller in the death overs, who struck five fours and a six in his 14-ball 31. Gujarat finished the innings on 192/4.
Rajasthan Royals 155/9 in 20 overs
Buttler, owner of the Orange Cap even before the match, smashed three consecutive fours in the first over, bowled by Mohammed Shami. He followed it with five fours and two sixes in Yash Dayal's first two overs, and soon raced to a fifty off just 23 balls with a well-executed scoop over the fine leg. However, Ferguson unleashed a dipping yorker to bowl him next ball/
Rajasthan promoted Ashwin at three,but the ploy did not work. Sanju Samson's innings was cut short by a bullet throw from Hardik that even snapped the middle stump in two.
Despite falling far behind the asking rate, Shimron Hetmyer kept Rajasthan in the game with intermittent boundaries. But his dismissal helped Gujarat tighten the screw in the game. In the end Rajasthan could only manage 155/9.
Brief Scores
Gujarat Titans 192/4 in 20 overs (Hardik Pandya 87*; Riyan Parag 1-12) beat Rajasthan Royals 155/9 in 20 overs (Jos Buttler 53; Lockie Ferguson 3-23) by 37 runs. Player of the Match: Hardik Pandya.