With a spectacular victory over the Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings’ captain Shashank Singh overshadows Shubman Gill’s knock.
In an exciting three-wicket victory over Punjab Kings in an Indian Premier League match played in Ahmedabad on Thursday, uncapped Shashank Singh’s explosive innings overshadowed Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill’s flawless undefeated half-century. Gill amassed the highest individual score of the season with 89 off 48 balls, hitting four maximums and six fours on route to leading GT to a commanding 199 for four. Rahul Tewatia’s undefeated 23 off eight balls and B Sai Sudharsan’s 33 off 19 balls both provided him with ample assistance.
However, Shashank delivered the knock of his life, remaining undefeated on 61 off 29 balls while smashing six boundaries and four sixes to help PBKS reach the finish line with one ball remaining. Heartbreak was in store for GT.
Ashutosh Sharma (31 off 17) gave him excellent support as the two combined for 43 runs in just 22 balls, raising hopes for PBKS that ultimately materialized.
Shikhar Dhawan, the skipper, gave PBKS an early scare as he went for a shot into the cover region off an Umesh Yadav delivery, setting them up for a large total chase.
Afghanistan’s left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad then dominated Jonny Bairstow (22 off 13), who wasn’t playing well at all.
PBKS continued to lose wickets at regular intervals, with Prabhsimran Singh (35 off 24; 5x4s, 1×6) being caught by Mohit Sharma at third-man as the batter went for a heave against Ahmad’s tossed-up delivery, only to get a top edge as PBKS fell to 64 for three by the end of the eighth over.
Sikandar Raza was dropped twice in Umesh Yadav’s 11th over, despite both being challenging chances.
But it was Shashank who took advantage of the lives, clobbering Umesh for two boundaries and a six to score 17 runs in the eleventh over.
Raza, on the other hand, was dismissed after he edged a Mohit hard-length delivery to Wriddhiman Saha behind the stumps.
Shashank continued to use his long handle, picking up a few boundaries and sixes to keep PBKS on the hunt.
Shashank stayed on to one end and blasted five boundaries and three over the fence to reach 50 off just 25 balls.
Shashank’s pyrotechnics alone kept PBKS in the fight. He was well-supported by Ashutosh, and the tandem snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
Earlier, opener Gill got off to a flying start, clobbering spinner Harpreet Brar clean over his head for the opening six runs of the game.
GT scored runs until the third over, when Kagiso Rabada (2/44) dismissed Wriddhiman Saha, latched by PBKS captain Shikhar Dhawan at mid-off.
Kane Williamson (26 off 22), who replaced the injured David Miller, looked in good form as he smashed Sam Curran and Rabada for boundaries to keep the GT scoreboard ticking.
However, Brar’s extra bounce cut short Williamson’s performance, as he was caught at backward point by Jonny Bairstow in the ninth over.
Gill and newcomer Sudharsan took Zimbabwe all-rounder Raza to task, scoring 14 runs off the 12th over, including three knocks to the boundary.
To maintain the pace, Gill took the lead and hammered Rabada for a maximum before Sudharsan hit the bowler to the mid-off boundary.
Discerning limits at his discretion, Sudharsan conducted his business with elegance, leaving Gill content to take on a supporting role.
When Harshal Patel snared Sudharsan, caught by wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma as the batter attempted an upper cut off a slower delivery, his cameo came to an end.
In the fifteenth over, Gill reached his fifty from thirty-one balls with a boundary behind deep square leg.
In the 17th over, Gill was at his imperious best, sending Harshal over long-on for a maximum.
While Gill went all guns blazing from one end, Vijay Shankar fell flat and was caught by a diving Brar at long off off Rabada.
Harshal’s lengths were erratic in his second spell, and Tewatia took full advantage, scoring 20 runs on the last over.
Tewatia delivered an outstanding performance, including two boundaries off bowler Arshdeep Singh in the final two balls.
