GT vs PBKS: Wrong Shashank Singh powers Punjab to right result in Ahmedabad

Punjab have done it!

Shashank Singh has done it for Punjab! What a turnaround. From a sure-shot winning position with Punjab down to 70/4, Shashank has played a sublime knock of 28-ball 61 to power Punjab to a 3-wicket win.

Need 7 off 6

Punjab Kings have turned things around. And they are now just 7 runs away from a win. Ashutosh and Shashank Singh have done it for Punjab almost.

Wrong Shashank, right result!

Jitesh Sharma might be gone but the player who was wrongly picked by PBKS at the auction has smashed a fifty. He has kept PBKS’s hopes alive.

Not now!

Jitesh Sharma looked good until he played the wrong shot. He hit two consecutive sixes off Rashid Khan and then he tried to go for the big one again and he is gone. Punjab need 50 off 27 and Shashank Singh needs to play the knock of his career.

Sikandar Raza gone!

Punjab Kings have lost their 5th wicket and it’s Sikandar Raza. Jitesh Sharma and Shashank Singh are the only two batters left with 90 runs still to get.

Halfway through

Sashank Singh has taken charge of the chase after Punjab lose Sam Curran. After 10 overs PBKS are 83/4 and still need 117 runs in 60 balls.

Sam Curran gone!

Punjab lose another wicket and it’s Sam Curran. The hopes are fading quickly as the power-hitter departs for 5.

PBKS 73/4 after 9.

2 overs since last boundary

The asking rate is climbing as Sikandar Raza and Sam Curran are still settling in after quick wickets. They need to get going as the required run rate is close to 12 now.

Prabhsimran departs

And it was a matter of time before Noor got another wicket. This time he gets Prabhsimran, who departs for 35. PBKS suffer at 64/3.

Spinners on top

It looks like, Punjab batsmen are finding it tough to deal with Rashid and Noor. Another over comes to an end and the score moves to 61/2 in 7 overs.

Noor Ahmad

In comes Noor for a bowl. And he breaches the defence of Bairstow. PBKS 48/2.

Rashid now

Rashid Khan comes into the attack now, and it is their chance to bag a wicket here. Prabhsimran in full flow here as he cuts for a four. It’s 48/1 after 5 overs.

Prabhsimran attacks

Prabhsimran takes the attack to Umesh Yadav now. He slams him for a six and a four. Make it another four in the over. Good batting here. It’s 39/1 after 4 overs.

Lightning-quick

This is an excellent outfield here, and just a normal push in the gap is taking the ball to the boundary. Still a fast start for GT. It’s 27/1 after 3 overs.

Shikhar gone

Poor start for Dhawan here as he chops one from Umesh on to the stumps. Early jolt for Punjab Kings. It’s 13/1.

Shubman-show takes GT to 199/4

Shubman Gill has played a sublime knock of 48-ball 89. And it has taken GT to 199/4 in 20 overs.

Omarzai starts

It’s a good start by the Afghani as he swings the ball both ways. Bairstow too manages to get a couple of fours in the over. Okay, make that three in the over. It’s 13/0 after 1 over.

Shankar departs!

Vijay Shankar falls as he tries to go for a big one. But Shubman Gill is going strong as he eyes century.

GT 164/4 in 17.4

2 overs to go!

Gujarat Titans are 153/3 after 17 overs. Subman Gill is still on the crease and he is going well. He is going for the big one.

Fifty for Gill!

Shubman Gill has not played many deliveries but he has made an impact. Gill gets to half-century.

GT 134/3 after 15 overs.

Sudharsan walks off!

A slower short ball by Harshal Patel and Sudharsan tries to cut it. But he edges it. There was an appeal but before the umpire takes a call, Sudharsan walks off.

GT 123/3 after 14 overs.

Gill moves to 40s

Shubman Gill is playing a sublime knock. He is not backing down. He takes on Kagiso Rabada with a straight batted shot for a six. And that is hold the pose moment.

GT 119/2 after 13 overs.

Williamson departs!

Kane Williamson falls for 26 off 22. It was an average knock from a great player. Harpreet Brar gets the wicket and Punjab Kings fight back.

GT 69/2 after 8.3 overs.

Gill & Williamson motor along

Kane Williamson and Shubman Gill are motoring along. They are going at a decent pace but not at express pace.

GT 65/1 after 8 overs.

End of powerplay

Kane Williamson and Shubman Gill take Gujarat Titans to 52/1. Both Williamson and Gill are playing cautiously without taking much chances.

Kane Williamson comes in!

Kane Williamson has got a chance to prove his doubters wrong about his prowess in powerplay. Williamson only has a strike rate of 76.38 in the powerplay.

GT 41/1 after 5

Saha falls!

The early lifeline does not work. Wriddhiman Saha falls and it’s Kagiso Rabada who draws the first blood.

GT 29/1 after 3

Comedy of error!

Jitesh Sharma chases a ball till the boundary line only to fumble and lose his balance.

Lifeline!

Wriddhiman Saha gets an early lifeline. The on-field umpire gave it out but he takes the DRS. And replay shows Arshdeep’s delivery was missing the stumps. e survives.

Gill & Saha ready

Gujarat need a good start and they need it from Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha.

Kane Williamson is back

He had been carrying water so far. Now, he has his chance to shine.

Impact Subs

Punjab Kings: Tanay Thyagarajan, Nathan Ellis, Asutosh Sharma, Rahul Chahar, Vidwath Kaverappa

Gujarat Titans: BR Sharath, Mohit Sharma, Sandeep Warrier, Abhinav Manohar, Manav Suthar

Punjab Kings Playing XI

Shikhar Dhawan(c), Jonny Bairstow, Jitesh Sharma(w), Prabhsimran Singh, Sam Curran, Shashank Singh, Sikandar Raza, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh

Gujarat Titans Playing XI:

Wriddhiman Saha(w), Shubman Gill(c), Sai Sudharsan, Kane Williamson, Vijay Shankar, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Umesh Yadav, Darshan Nalkande

Shikhar Dhawan speaks

I feel it’s a good wicket and it will stay the same, we will prefer chasing. I don’t think every game is gonna be like that, we will score runs. I think we are playing decent cricket, it’s early days in the tournament, we are going to play better. Livi goes out and Sikandar Raza comes into the side.

Shubman Gill speaks

It looks like an even wicket. In the first year we played them, we played them twice. We have started off prretty well, games on the road are important. Last year, we played away from home. Miller misses out due to a niggle and Kane comes into the side.

No Miller, Livingstone

David Miller misses out with a niggle for Gujarat Titans. Kane Williamson comes in place of him. For Punjab, Liam Livingstone is out with an injury as Sikandar Raza comes in.

Toss Update

Shikhar Dhawan wins toss and opts to chase at the Motera.

Pitch report

It’s pitch No 6 which will be used today and it’s a used pitch. Chasing teams have a better record on this surface which is a mixture of black and red soil. There is also 3mm of grass and that should help the seamers a bit.

Sam Curran gives spin a try

Matthew Wade available

Having missed the first three games, Matthew Wade is available for selection for Gujarat Titans. But will he get a go?

No Liam Livingstone?

Liam Livingstone did his best with a hamstring injury. But whether PBKS will take a risk for the England star remains a big question.

GT vs PBKS Head to Head

GT 2-1 PBKS: Gujarat TItans hold the edge having won against Punjab in Mohali last season. Now, Punjab visit Ahmedabad in search for a win.

Gujarat Titans

Shubman Gill’s topsy-turvy form is a concern for Gujarat as the captain hasn’t played a smooth knock so far. Wriddhiman Saha too has looked good in patches but has failed to deliver a longer innings. Rahul Tewatia too remains a concern and has not delivered the goods.