IPL 2023 | GT vs RR; Stunning counter-attack from Samson, Hetmyer help RR Avenge IPL Final Defeat
Hetmyer leaps in excitement [Image- IPLT20]
A superb display of counterattack from Sanju Samson and Shimron Hetmyer propelled the Rajasthan Royals (RR) to a thrilling 3-wicket win over defending champs Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday night.
Chasing 178, the Royals couldn't have asked for a worst possible start as their in-form opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler were knocked over by good old seam movement and hard lengths from Mohammad Shami and Hardik Pandya.
Pandya accounted for Jaiswal (1 off 7) by first drawing him front with a full delivery, and then pegging back by pounding on a hard-length close to his body. Jaiswal tried to cut but he had no room to work with, and hence, missed.
Hardik followed it up with a similar delivery, but this time, it seamed away. Jaiswal tried to cut it again, but could only fend it to Shubman Gill in the slip cordon.
Then, it was Shami, who cut Buttler in half with sharp incoming deliveries. To account for it, Buttler tried the worst possible option- scoop, only to see his stumps uprooted. RR 4-2 in 2.5 and in big trouble!
Devdutt Padikkal never looked in any sort of comfort against the hostile bowling of Shami and Hardik, until the bowlers occasionally fed him with 'hit me' balls on his leg or half-volleys on 4th stump.
His 25-ball stay was ended by Rashid Khan, who also claimed Riyan Parag (5 off 7) to leave RR gasping for breath at 55/4 in the 11th over.
Then came Rajasthan's Royal comeback! First, it was skipper Sanju Samson, who kickstarted the onslaught with a brutal 32-ball 60 with the help of 3 fours and 6 maximums- including 3 on consecutive deliveries off Rashid.
After Samson's departure, it was Shimron Hetmyer's turn to take over, and the southpaw was brilliantly supported by Dhruv Jurel.
The duo added 47 runs in the next 3.2 overs before Jurel holed out against Shami.
However, Ashwin picked off from where Jurel had left, smashing Shami for a four and a six off consecutive deliveries before holing out.
But, RR still had Hetmyer, who, en-route to a well-deserved 25-ball half-century, ensured he took his side over the line with a six over wide long-on.
Manohar & Miller's late flourish propelled GT to 177
Earlier, Gujarat Titans got off to a poor start as they lost their opener Wriddhiman Saha in the very first over after an attempted flick of his went straight up, and after a lot of hara-kiri, was finally pouched by the bowler himself, Trent Boult.
On a tricky surface for batting at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the hosts innings never really hit top gear on a consistent basis even though the likes of Abhinav Manohar (27 off 13) and David Miller (46 off 30) did provide a much-needed spark by adding 52 priceless runs in the last 4 overs.
Following the dismissal of Saha, GT's duo of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudarshan struggled to get going in the powerplay, especially the latter, and it eventually resulted in a run-out, ending the southpaw's 19-ball stay (20 runs) at the crease.
Skipper Hardik Pandya came out all guns blazing, stroking Sandeep Shatma for two 4s in the final over of the powerplay to take GT's score to 42/2.
The next two overs proved to be really productive as Pandya and Gill took down Adam Zampa and R Ashwin for 4 fours and sixes to inject a much-needed momentum.
In the process, Hardik became the 6th player, and 2nd Indian to complete a double of 2000+ runs & 50+ wickets in the IPL.
However, one shot proved too many as Pandya (28 off 19) eventually ended up miscuing an attempted hoick off Yuzvendra Chahal straight to Yashasvi Jaiswal at extra cover.
Rajasthan pulled things back after Hardik's dismissal courtesy of the spin choke via Zampa and Ashwin as Gill and Miller could only manage 25 runs between overd 11-15.
Gill was eventually dismissed by Sandeep Sharma for a 34-ball 45 in the 16th over, and this brought Manohar to the crease.
Manohar took down Boult and then Zampa in his brief cameo, while Miller also shifted gears at the death to help GT post 177/7 in 20. It was not enough in the end as RR managed to pull off a heist in stunning run-chase.
Brief Scores:
Gujarat Titans - 177/7 (20)
David Miller 46 (30), Hardik Pandya 28 (19)
Sandeep Sharma 2/25 (4), Adam Zampa 1/32 (4)
Rajasthan Royals - 179/7 (19.2)
Sanju Samson 60 (32), Shimron Hetmyer 56* (26)
Mohammad Shami 3/25 (4), Rashid Khan 2/46 (4)
Result: Rajasthan Royals win by 3 wickets
 "Yash Mittal")
