Gujarat Titans climbed to the second spot, thanks to an all-around display by their batsmen and bowlers.

Prepend To the Content

Defending champions Gujarat Titans handed five-time champions Mumbai Indians a thumping defeat, courtesy a violent death-over assault by Abhinav Manohar and David Miller, and a spin demolition of the Mumbai batting, led by the excellent Noor Ahmad and Rashid Khan.

Gill lays the platform despite top-order failure

After a difficult end to his spell in the last game, Arjun Tendulkar made a strong return, picking up the wicket of Wriddhiman Saha, and giving away only nine runs in the powerplay. Hardik Pandya perished first ball after the powerplay too. However, it was Shubman Gill who kept the momentum going, taking on Cameron Green in the last over of the powerplay, smashing two fours and a six, carting his way to a brisk and beautiful fifty…

A brief lull, and the Miller-Manohar surge

When Kumar Kartikeya got rid of Shubman Gill, and Piyush Chawla got Vijay Shankar soon after, there was a brief lull before a 35-ball assault by David Miller and Abhinav Manohar. It started with a Piyush Chawla over, that was taken for 17 runs (his previous three overs had gone for a total of 17), after which, every bowler was under attack. No one was spared, as the pair clubbed the Mumbai bowling attack for 71 runs in 35 balls, with captain Rohit Sharma looking thoroughly out of his depth.

To add to their woes, after the dismissal of Manohar, Tewatia joined the party, hitting three of his first four balls out of the park. A deflated Mumbai attack walked off the field, as Gujarat massacred 94 runs in the last 6 overs, creating their own version of the powerplay.

A slow start to a tall chase

Much like the Mumbai Indians’ campaign, which hasn’t started with a win in almost a decade, the chase began rather slowly, with Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan struggling to find their timing against the pacers, Mohammed Shami and Hardik Pandya. Rohit Sharma offered a return catch to his counterpart, Hardik Pandya, resulting in a soft dismissal, bringing Cameron Green to the crease. Surely, a surge was on its way…

The post Gujarat Titans climbed to the second spot, thanks to an all-around display by their batsmen and bowlers. appeared first on Fairplay News.