Russell nearly takes KKR home but GT firm on top

The Gujarat Titans (GT) defeated the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the thirty-fifth game of the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL). The match was played in the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Rashid Khan was adjudged to be the Man of the Match.

Southee and Hardik make impression in the sun

Tim Southee replaced the pricey Pat Cummins as one of the Knight Riders' three changes for the game. Shubman Gill edged a loosener down the leg side behind in the second over, and he struck with his first ball. Hardik Pandya walked in at No. 3, the highest place he has ever batted for the Titans, as Wriddhiman Saha battled to establish his rhythm.

Pandya led the assault from one end to the other in half-century stands with Saha and No. 4 David Miller, reaching his half-century in 36 balls and completing a hat-trick of fifties in the process, and looking prepared to switch gears for a major flourish at the death. He did, however, fall in the 18th over.

Southee removed Pandya in his return spell, throwing an offcutter that Hardik pulled to the boundary rider Rinku Singh. Rashid Khan was caught trying to pull Southee as well not long after, and the fast bowler finished with 3 for 24.

Russell's four-wicket haul impressive

Despite the fact that Varun Chakravarthy's numbers were better (one for 26 in three overs) than in previous games, Shreyas Iyer did not choose him for his fourth over. Instead, with the Titans at 151 for 5 and the 20th to bowl, Iyer resorted to Andre Russell.

Russell then went on to dismiss Abhinav Manohar, Lockie Ferguson, and Rahul Tewatia, all of whom were caught by Singh on the longer square boundary on the right-handers' leg side, before finishing the innings with a diving caught-and-bowled dismissal of Yash Dayal for a four-for in just six balls. His over not only insured a tame end for the Titans, but it also gave the  Knight Riders the momentum.

Titans' pacers in complete command

Sam Billings, who replaced Aaron Finch [out with a niggle], opened with Sunil Narine. Mohammed Shami, on the other hand, dispatched both openers with his new-ball explosion.

Billings just lasted four balls before slicing a catch to Saha in the opening over of the chase, thanks to Shami's bouncer. A bombardment of short-pitched deliveries then spooked Narine, and when Shami offered him a length ball, he could only whip the ball to the fielder at short fine-leg.

When Ferguson's around-the-wicket angle got Nitish Rana behind, the scoreboard read 34 for 4, and the Knight Riders were looking at a big defeat. Shreyas Iyer was the fourth man out, caught behind again, this time off Dayal's left-arm angle.

Singh and Russell retaliate

Venkatesh Iyer entered at No. 6, and began to form a partnership with Singh. Khan's opening spell was attentively watched, and Singh found the odd boundary to reach 35 with four fours and a six.

The Knight Riders needed 77 runs with eight overs to go, but Dayal had Singh caught behind in his return spell, which was completely against the run of play. Russell was assigned to No. 7 and began by ending Dayal's over with back-to-back sixes.

The Knight Riders dugout was seen encouraging Iyer to stay with Russell towards the end of the over, but he failed to do so, trudging out to deep midwicket while attempting to play Khan against the turn. Khan then dismissed Shivam Mavi, finishing with 2 for 22.

The Titans had four seamers, each with one over in hand, with 45 needed off four overs. Pandya went for experience first, giving Shami the 16th and Ferguson the 17th, for a total of 16 runs. Dayal's 19th went for 11, and Alzarri Joseph's first ball of the 20th went for a six, but Russell's dismissal the following ball meant that Pandya's toss decision got them the outcome they sought.