IPL
IPL 2024: Shashank Singh's unbeaten 61 fashions thrilling win for Punjab Kings against Gujarat Titans
Ahmedabad/UNI: In the 17th match of IPL 2024 held at Narendra Modi Stadium here on Thursday, Punjab Kings emerged victorious in a thrilling encounter against Gujarat Titans, winning by three wickets.
Gujarat posted a challenging total of 199/4 in their innings, and Punjab successfully chased down the target, reaching 200/7 with just one ball remaining.
Youngsters Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma played pivotal roles in Punjab's triumph, contributing significantly to their team's success. This victory marked Punjab Kings' second win of the season, providing them with a much-needed boost after suffering two consecutive defeats.
On the other hand, Gujarat faced their second loss of the season, with this being their first defeat at their home ground.
The target of 200 runs proved to be a tough challenge for Punjab, especially when they found themselves struggling at 150/6.
However, Ashutosh showcased his talent with a quickfire knock of 31 runs off just 17 balls, proving to be an impactful player for his team.
Shashank played a remarkable unbeaten innings of 61 runs, displaying resilience and aggression at the crease. His knock included six boundaries and four sixes, steering Punjab Kings towards victory in difficult conditions.
Photo courtesy: UNI
Additionally, Prabhasimran Singh's contribution of 35 runs off 23 balls proved crucial in Punjab's successful run chase.
Earlier, Gujarat began their innings with a promising start, with Riddhiman Saha (11) providing early momentum with 11 runs before falling victim to Kagiso Rabada's bowling prowess.
Kane Williamson's return to the field after an injury spell was eagerly anticipated by the home fans, but unfortunately, he could only manage to score 26 runs in his comeback innings. Despite this, the Kiwi skipper's presence in the lineup was significant for Gujarat Titans.
It was Captain Gill who truly stole the spotlight with his explosive innings in the middle. His innings of 89 runs off 48 balls, which included 6 fours and 4 sixes, provided the much-needed momentum to Gujarat Titans' innings.
Gill's leadership and batting prowess played a pivotal role in guiding his team to a competitive total.
Sai Sudharshan's contribution with the bat further bolstered Gujarat Titans' innings. His fiery knock of 33 runs added valuable runs to the scoreboard, contributing to the team's respectable total in their allotted 20 overs.
Despite the efforts of the Punjab Kings' bowlers, who tried to apply pressure through their fielding as well, Gujarat Titans managed to post a challenging total.
The inability of the Punjab bowlers to extract much from the pitch also worked in favor of Gujarat Titans, allowing them to build their innings steadily.
However, Punjab Kings' Kagiso Rabada and Harshal Patel put in a commendable effort by claiming key wickets.
Brief scores
Gujarat Titans 199 for 4 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 89, Kane Williamson 26, Sai Sudharsan 33; Kagiso Rabada 2/44) lost to Punjab Kings 200 for 7 in 19.5 overs (Prabhsimran Singh 35, Shashank Singh 61 not out, Ashutosh Sharma 31; Noor Ahmad 2/32) by three wickets.
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