Gujarat Titans two left-handers, Rahul Tewatia (25-ball 43 not out) and David Miller (24-ball 39 not out), gave them a six-wicket win with three balls to spare, chasing RCB’s 170-6
Virat Kohli after reaching his 50. Pic/PTI
Virat Kohli (53-ball 58, 6x4, 1x6) was finally among the runs with a half-century against Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Brabourne Stadium on Saturday. However, the former Royal Challengers Bangalore captain’s effort went in vain as two left-handers—Rahul Tewatia (25-ball 43 not out) and David Miller (24-ball 39 not out)—gave Titans a six-wicket win with three balls to spare, chasing RCB’s 170-6.
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By Over No.13, Titans had lost their top four batsmen with the scoreboard reading 95. Both openers Shubman Gill (31, 3x4, 1x6) and Wriddhiman Saha (29, 4x4) were back in the dugout by 68-2. However, left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed (2-26), who dismissed Gill in his previous over, claimed skipper Hardik Pandya’s (3) wicket when he holed out to Mahipal Lomror at long-on. Sri Lankan leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga (2-28) too bowled well. However, the arrival of Miller and Tewatia made it difficult for the Bangalore bowlers.
Tewatia stars in win
Tewatia, who survived a DRS call when he was on one, played a matured knock in which he hit five fours and two sixes. Miller too provided good support with four fours and a six in an unbeaten 79-run match-winning stand.
Earlier, GT pacer Mohammed Shami (1-39) beat opener Kohli, but the India speedster twice faltered in his run-up before being dispatched for two boundaries by Kohli.
Sangwan shines
GT’s Delhi-based left-arm pacer Pradeep Sangwan (4-0-19-2), who was playing his first game of the season, bowled a superb over to dismiss RCB captain Faf du Plessis (0), caught behind by Saha. Kohli’s batting partner Rajat Patidar played aggressively, taking just 32 balls for his 52 in which he smashed five fours and two sixes. Patidar slammed his maiden IPL fifty and shared a 99-run, second-wicket stand with Kohli.
Brief scores
RCB 170-6 in 20 overs (V Kohli 58, R Patidar 52; P Sangwan 2-19, R Khan 1-29) lost to GT 174-4 in 19.3 overs (R Tewatia 43*, D Miller 39*; S Ahmed 2-26, W Hasaranga 2-28 by six wickets