Gujarat Titans celebrated ending Rajasthan Royals’ IPL four-match winning streak in a nail-biting thriller to win by three wickets on Wednesday.
While Rajasthan cling on to their table-topping position above Kolkata Knight Riders, the Titans clawed their way back to a dramatic victory in the final five overs, needing 73 off the final 30 balls.
The pressure fell on the shoulders of bowling all-rounder Rashid Khan from Afghanistan to win the match on the final ball — thumping it to the boundary for four to end on top with 199-7.
“You just have to be positive,” Rashid said. “The more positive you are thinking inside, the better the result comes out.”
Asked where the Royals had lost, skipper Sanju Samson laughed and said “the last ball of the game”, adding it was “very hard” to speak after the defeat.
But he still handed out praise for the Titans’ play.
“You have to give credit to the Gujarat Titans, to the way they batted, bowled and fielded,” Samson said.
Rajasthan had looked confident going into the game, after being invited to bat first at their home ground of Jaipur.
After initial wobbles, with Yashasvi Jaiswal caught on 24, and England’s Jos Buttler going for eight, 22-year-old Riyan Parag helped build a daunting total.
He celebrated his third fifty in five innings, this time in a knock off 34 balls.
Parag fell for 76 to a juggled but successful catch by Vijay Shankar.
But Samson, who made 68, and Shimron Hetmyer, unbeaten on 13, guided Rajasthan to 196-3 — keeping their hopes that they were heading for their fifth straight victory alive.
As Gujarat came into bat, the Royals seemed to have taken charge, with the chase crumbling as speedster Kuldeep Sen ripped through the Titans’ top order, posting figures of 3-41.
Sen trapped Sai Sudharsan lbw for 35 before bowling Matthew Wade and Abhinav Manohar cheaply.
“We lost a few wickets back-to-back”, said Gujarat’s Sudharsan. “But we had belief and we won the game.”
Skipper Shubman Gill made 72 to push Gujarat’s total up before being stumped, while Rahul Tewatia made 22 before he was run out.
But it was Rashid who brought the Titans across the winning threshold, making 24 in the frantic final balls.
“This victory was much-needed for us and gives us momentum,” Sudharsan added. “Hopefully we play a few more good games and have a good season.”
Skipper Gill was delighted with the much-needed win.
“I would have loved to finish the game but very happy with the way Rashid bhai and Rahul bhai finished the game,” he said.
“Last game also, we dominated more than 50% but our bad phases were very bad. Winning the game off the last ball is a wonderful feeling. He (Rashid) is such a fantastic player, someone you always want in your team.”
Brief scores
Gujarat Titans beat Rajasthan Royals by three wickets.
Rajasthan Royals 196/3 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 68*, Riyan Parag 76; Rashid Khan 1-18)
Gujarat Titans: 199/7 (Shubman Gill 72, Sai Sudarshan 35, Kuldip Sen 3/41).
Thursday’s match:
Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Mumbai
6 pm UAE Time