IPL 2024, GT vs PBKS: Shashank Singh's match-winning 61* turns game in Punjab Kings' favour. Top Takeaways for Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings from the match.
Brief Scores: PBKS 200/7 (Shashank 61*, Noor 2/32) beat GT 199/4 (Gill 89*, Sudharsan 33, Rabada 2/44) by 3-wkts.
Player of the Match: Shashank Singh (61* runs in 29 balls)
Put into bat first, Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Shubman Gill carried his bat for his unbeaten 48-ball 89-run knock. At the Narendra Modi Stadium, the home side propelled to 199/4. Punjab Kings (PBKS) lost half of their side for just 111. But Shashank Singh’s 61*-run knock carried them over the line with three wickets in hand. This is the highest chase in this edition of IPL so far.
Key Takeaways from GT vs PBKS, Match 17, IPL 2024- Winning Team (PBKS)
Punjab need their struggling top order to fire
One of the main reasons for Punjab’s overall struggle this season has been the poor form of their top order. In their first game against Delhi Capitals, the top three could collect only 57 runs together. In their second game, Shikhar Dhawan missed out on his fifty by two runs. Neither Johny Bairstow nor Prabhsimran Singh could put up a great show.
Even on a high 200-run chase this evening, Dhawan got out for just 1. Bairstow and Prabhsimran began well, but couldn’t turn their starts into big scores. The seventh-rank side would want their top order to stand up with some runs competing.
Read More: IPL 2024, GT vs SRH: In a tale of contrasting halves, Shubman Gill stands out with superb captaincy
Young Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma showed their incredible skills
In their game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Shashank Singh snatched the attention with an unbeaten eight-ball 21-run knock. In this high-scoring chase, coming at 70/4, he showed his skill against the pacers and the spinners.
He pulled Umesh Yadav over a fine leg for a six. The way he found the gap over mid-wicket against Noor Ahmed for a boundary was phenomenal. He didn’t think twice before slog-sweeping Rashid Khan for a six to celebrate a 25-ball maiden IPL fifty.
Ashutosh Sharma, coming as an impact player, nailed a 16-ball 31-run knock to take Punjab near the victory. His three boundaries and one solitary six were so vital to getting near the finishing line.
Key Takeaways from GT vs PBKS, Match 17, IPL 2024- Losing Team (GT)
Gill returned to form, positive vibes back for GT
Shubman Gill was getting starts in the first few games of the IPL 2024 but couldn’t turn them into big scores. The stage was set against the Punjab Kings (PBKS). On his second ball of the evening, he used his feet to smoke Harpreet Brar over his head for a six. A four through the square took Gill into double figures.
When Sikandar Raza went short in his length, the 24-year-old stayed back and slapped it straight down the ground. The most attractive shot of the night was the way Gill hoisted Kagiso Rabada for another straight six.
He paced his knock quite amazingly. 20 runs came off his first 12 balls, while it took him another 12 for the next 16 runs. As he became comfortable in the middle, the strike rate flew high. From his 25th to 36th delivery, Gill managed 24 more runs. In the end, he was smacking everything as 29 runs came in his last 12 deliveries. His 89*-run knock is a huge plus for the Titans going into the tournament.
Titans lack a sixth bowling option
Gujarat Titans missed a sixth bowling option in the chase. On an evening, when their main bowlers were getting smashed, they missed an extra bowling. They didn’t bring Darshan Nalkande into the attack until the last over. But they need to find a way to add one of Sai Kishore or Spencer Johnson into the attack.
Statistical highlights for GT vs PBKS, Ahmedabad
Rabada has dismissed Saha four times in T20s at an average of 12.8.
Since the start of 2020, Williamson has the second lowest powerplay strike rate (94.98) among those who have played 100+ balls in that period.
Against left-arm spin, Bairstow has managed just 121 IPL runs at 105.2 strike rate with six dismissals.
Points Table Scenario & What’s Next
With the victory, PBKS move to the fifth position with four points at a net run rate of -0.220. At the same time, Gujarat drops down to sixth with -0.580 NRR.
Up next, after a lumpy result in their last encounters, both Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) seek hitting comfort. The former will host CSK on April 05 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
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