IPL 2022 | PBKS vs GT | Rahul Tewatia's final-over theatrics snatches win from Punjab's hands

Gujarat Titans' multi-million dollar buy, Rahul Tewatia, turned back time to the year 2020, when he sent Sheldon Cottrell all over the park in one over. On Friday, Punjab Kings' (PBKS) Odean Smith fell prey to Tewatia's brilliance as the latter handed Gujarat Titans a six-wicket win in a rivetting contest at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai. 

With 190 runs needed to win, Shubman Gill was quick off the blocks, smashing quite a few boundaries facing the new ball and setting the tone for the run-chase. However, his opening partner Matthew Wade continued his poor form and could only score six runs off seven deliveries.

Shubman Gill, along with young Sai Sudharsan, took charge of the ship, with the former donning the role of an aggressor while the latter took time in his debut game. 

Gill did not let the required run-rate climb and gathered boundaries at regular intervals. Sudharsan, in between, four fours and a six during his breezy knock of 35 runs.

The platform was set for Hardik Pandya to reignite the finisher in him, with the Titans requiring 57 runs off 32 balls. However, Pandya struggled early in his innings, while Gill couldn't find his timing. As run-rate crept up, Pandya sent the ball past the boundary rope on a few occasions but lost his partner, Shubman, who got out after scoring a 96-run knock.

The pressure was telling on the Ahmedabad team, with 19 runs required off the final over. A miscommunication between Hardik Pandya and David Miller resulted in the run-out of the GT skipper, which worsened the situation further. With a couple of maximums required in the final two deliveries, Tewatia came to the fore and again passed the litmus test with flying colours. The former RR finisher smoked Smith for two consecutive deliveries in the final two balls and sealed the game for Gujarat by six wickets.

Earlier, PBKS had a jittery start with the bat, losing their skipper Mayank Agarwal (5 off 9) and Jonny Bairstow (8 off 8) in the powerplay. Shikhar Dhawan could never get going and crawled his way to a 30-ball 35.

However, Liam Livingstone took inspiration from his last knock and carried on his destructive way to lead Punjab's recovery. 

After Dhawan's dismissal, Livingstone and Jitesh Sharma sent the ball flying as runs started flowing easily. The Englishman spared no bowler as fours and sixes galore, while the latter registered a quick-fire 23-run knock off just 11 deliveries. 

Rashid Khan and debutant Darshan Nalkade (2/32) helped Gujarat come back into the game, with Punjab's middle-order succumbing. But, useful cameos from Rahul Chahar (22 off 14) and Arsheep Singh (10 off 5), in the end, pushed Punjab towards a commendable total of 189 runs. 

This win has led Gujarat Titans to the second position on the points table with three victories in three matches, while PBKS has been dropped to the sixth spot and lost two of its four games.

Brief scores:

Punjab Kings - 189/9,

Liam Livingstone 64(27) Shikhar Dhawan 35(30),

Rashid Khan - 22/3;

Gujarat Titans - 190/4,

Shubman Gill 96(59) Sai Sudarshan 35(30),

Kagiso Rabada 35/2;

Gujarat Titans won by six wickets