SPORTS

Turning Point: Rahul-Miller's Rescue Act

By LAXMI NEGI
May 01, 2022 11:35 IST

IMAGE: Gujarat Titans's David Miller and Rahul Tewatia put on a match-winning partnership of 79 runs to get the job done once again in the final over. Photograph: BCCI/IPL

Gujarat Titans have been invincible in their debut IPL season. They have survives every close situation and triumphed in pressure situations.

On Saturday, opting to bat first, Royal Challengers Bangalore's Virat Kohli (58) and Rajat Patildar (52) scored half-centuries while Glenn Maxwell (33 off 18 balls) produced an entertaining cameo as RCB posted 170/6.

 

Wriddhiman Saha got his side off to a flier, but his partner Shubman Gill struggled. Both openers fell and Sai Sudharsan and Hardik Pandya soon followed suit. As Gujarat lost wickets in a flurry, RCB seemed to gain a strong foothold in the contest when they reduced GT to 95/4 in the 13th over.

But whenever GT have looked down and out; in the end, they find a way to win matches.

Gujarat needed 76 runs from 42 balls at that stage and RCB had the momentum. David Miller then walked out to join forces with Rahul Tewatia.

IMAGE: Rahul Tewatia (43* off 25) and David Miller (39* off 24) got together at the crease to take control of the proceedings. Photograph: BCCI/IPL

The two left-handers paced their partnership smartly and got the big hit when needed.

An unbeaten 79 run partnership for the fifth wicket off just 40 balls between Tewatia and Miller took Gujarat to their 8th win of the season.

Tewatia, displaying tremendous composure, finished off in style with a confident boundary off Josh Hazlewood as GT chased down 171 with six wickets and three balls to spare.

At the death, the experienced trio of Mohammed Siraj, Harshal Patel and Hazlewood couldn't stem the flow of boundaries and RCB succumbed to a third defeat in a row.

Titans on the other hand have 16 points as they continue to dominate the points table.

LAXMI NEGI / Rediff.com

Recommended by Rediff.com

NEXT ARTICLE

NewsBusinessMoviesSportsCricketGet AheadDiscussionLabsMyPageVideosCompany Email