Mullanpur: In a high-octane clash at the Maharaj Yadvindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Rahul Tewatia's blistering unbeaten innings of 36 runs off just 18 balls propelled Gujarat Titans to a thrilling victory over Punjab Kings in the 37th match of IPL 2024 here on Sunday.
Facing a challenging target of 143 runs, Gujarat found themselves in a precarious position with wickets tumbling at regular intervals. However, Tewatia showcased his aggressive batting prowess, smashing seven boundaries, including seven fours, to turn the tide in Gujarat's favour.
Despite the pressure of the mounting required run rate and the fall of wickets, Tewatia remained composed and anchored the innings brilliantly. His match-winning knock ensured Gujarat reached the target with three wickets in hand and five balls to spare. The team concluded their innings at 147/7 in 19.1 overs, securing a crucial victory over Punjab in a closely contested encounter.
Chasing a target of 143 runs set by Punjab, Gujarat faced an early setback as Wriddhiman Saha departed for 13 runs in the fourth over. However, captain Shubman Gill and Sai Sudarshan steadied the innings with their crucial contributions. Gill scored 35 runs off 29 balls, including five fours, while Sai Sudarshan chipped in with 31 runs, hitting three fours.
Earlier in the match, Punjab, electing to bat first after winning the toss, managed to post a total of 142 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
Prabhsimran Singh top-scored for Punjab Kings with 35 runs off 21 balls, while Harpreet Brar contributed 29 runs.
For Gujarat, Sai Kishore was the pick of the bowlers, claiming four wickets, while Noor Ahmed and Mohit Sharma provided valuable support, taking two wickets each to restrict Punjab Kings to a modest total.
With this thrilling win, Gujarat registered their fourth victory in eight matches, maintaining their momentum in the tournament and bolstering their position in the points table.
