Miller plunders CSK to keep GT at top

The Gujarat Titans (GT) defeated the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the twenty-ninth game of the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL). The match was played in the Maharashtra Cricket Academy Stadium in Pune. David Miller was adjudged to be the Man of the Match.

Gaikwad and Rayudu set themselves up for spectacular finale

The Titans managed to get Robin Uthappa, this season's most explosive powerplay batter, early in the innings, and Moeen Ali's mediocre IPL continued, leaving the score at 32 for 2 in the sixth over. Ruturaj Gaikwad, who had only scored 35 runs in his previous five outings, and Ambati Rayudu rebuilt the innings, hoping for a traditional CSK acceleration in the back 10.

The best of them taken out by Gaikwad and Rayudu

The Titans promptly brought in their top bowlers to try to take a wicket in the last 10 overs, sensing the threat from the CSK. They were in for a total onslaught. Rayudu charged down at Alzarri Joseph and lofted him over long-off before Gaikwad welcomed him back with a pulled six. Lockie Ferguson went for a six and a four on his first try. Rayudu smacked Rashid Khan for six runs. CSK appeared in good shape at 124 for 2 after 14 overs.

Joseph begins his recovery, others soon follow

In his maiden IPL match for the GT, Joseph produced a fantastic comeback in the 15th over. He continued to bowl wide outside off to force Rayudu to hit the larger boundary. Rayudu finally caught up to the third after two plays and misses, but only got as far as deep point. With only four runs off the 16th, Shami finished with figures of 4-0-20-1. Yash Dayal dismissed Gaikwad for 73 off 48 balls with a low full toss. Shivam Dube labored with the slowness of the surface without a boundary.

In the 19th, Khan, who had possibly kept himself back for Mahendra Singh Dhoni, conceded no boundaries. Only Ravindra Jadeja's use of the short leg side boundary against Ferguson in the final over, which he took 18 off, helped the CSK to a competitive total.

Early on, Theekshana strikes

The Titans must have expected Shubman Gill for a huge contribution with Hardik Pandya, their best batsman so far, out, but he chopped the first pitch he encountered - short, wide, and asking to be hit - straight to cover-point. In the powerplay, Maheesh Theekshana, fresh off a four-for in the previous match, turned the screw by dismissing Vijay Shankar and Abhinav Manohar. After eight overs, Wriddhiman Saha hit an unremarkable 11 off 18 to reduce the score to 48 for 4.

Miller arrives

David Miller, on the other hand, appeared to be on a different pitch than the one on which practically everyone had labored with timing in the previous 12 overs. Miller smashed a straight four and a six in the ninth and eleventh overs, despite Moeen Ali gaining grip and turning the ball away from the bat. He got off to a good start in the 12th, taking out Jadeja, who twisted the ball into him and got hammered for two sixes and a four. Miller had scored 52 off just 29 balls out of 87 for 4 in 12 overs.

Bravo steps in to help

Dwayne Bravo began his evening with a wicket-maiden, at a moment when Miller may have looked for some help from the other end. Rahul Tewatia was caught by the slower ball, which dipped and gripped for him.

Miller, on the other hand, continued to make up for Khan's sluggish start. Because Khan knew there wasn't much batting behind him, the next three overs were critical because runs could have only come from Miller's end. The runs came, and they came in style. Bravo and Theekshana were both hit for sixes in the final four overs, bringing the required runs to 52. Bravo fought back with a no boundary in the 17th.

Khan's chastisement

Khan unfurled those wrists against Chris Jordan, the most prolific death-overs bowler in IPL chases, in the 18th over, with a short leg-side boundary in play. The initial half-volley was sent flying past midwicket by the chopper. Jordan missed the second ball, but Rashid smashed a six over the longer boundary with a magnificent slice over point. Jordan went for a four and a six after missing the yorker twice more. 

Bravo reintroduced CSK with a slower version to get rid of Khan. Joseph got a free hit at 13 off seven to try for a boundary, but he found long-off. Miller was still on strike at the start of the last over.

Jordan kept missing his yorker, and when he bowled a high full toss with seven required off three, the game was effectively gone. In terms of runs conceded at the death in an IPL chase, his 38 off 11 legal balls was second only to Thisara Perera's 41 off nine balls.