IPL
Archer and Deshpande help Royals pull off a thrilling six-run win over Gujarat Titans
Rajasthan Royals pulled off a thrilling six-run win over hosts Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday night.
In what turned out to be a high drama with Gujarat Titans skipper Rashid khan and Kagiso Rabada almost steering their side home, but Jofra Archer and Tushar Desphande managed to hold their nerves and stun the Ahmedabad crowd.
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Titans were 161 for seven in 14.5 overs and still needed 50 for victory. Rashid and Rabada then turned it on with a 43-run partnership to bring Titans close to victory. The hosts needed 15 off the last 12 balls and it looked as if the matter was sealed in favour of the Titans, but Archer had other ideas.
Rajasthan Royals spinner Ravi Bishnoi wrecked the Titans middle order with a four for 41 haul
The Englishman gave away just four runs in the 19th over and the pressure was on the Titans as they needed 11 off the last six balls. Tushar Deshpande then showed he had nerves of steel and denied the Titans any room to score. Rashid Khan holed out to Archer in the deep and Titans could score just six in final over to lose the game.
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“Initially, when he hit it, I thought it was going to six. I just ran and hoped for the best, and thankfully it went in. Everything that could have gone right in the field, went right, and I am proud of the boys (and their effort in the field today),” said Archer.
Titans had begun well
Titans had begun well with openers Sai Sudharsan and Kumar Kushagra (18), playing in place of the injured Shubman Gill, added a 48-ball 78 for the first wicket. Sudharsan and Jos Buttler then added 29 before Sudarsan fell for 73 off 44 balls with nine fours and three sixes. Buttler made 26 off 14 balls with five fours but the middle-order collapsed as Ravi Bishnoi spun a web of deceit.
Thereafter, the Titans innings went into a tailspin and lost their way. But for Rashid (24) and Rabada (23 not out), Titans would have lost with a bigger margin.
Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 55 and shared a 70-run opening partnership with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
“We bowled really well, especially after the way they started. We started well with the bat as well. Then, we lost back-to-back wickets and that put us on the back foot. That period of time, we lost the momentum. On a wicket like this, 9-10 per over is not a hard job. The boundaries were coming. We just lost few quick wickets in that period and that did not allow us to keep momentum till the end. It is too early, but we will learn from our mistakes and come back stronger,” said Titans skipper Rashid Khan.
What did he and Rabada plan for the last over? “The discussion was we just needed to hit one boundary. Tushar bowled some exceptional yorkers. But the one ball he missed, I should have hit that for six. Just need to stay calm. It is going to be a long tournament. We learn from it and come back stronger,” he added.
Royals top three among the runs
Earlier, Rajasthan Royals’ top three batters contributed well with the bat. Royals made a competitive 210 for six with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel hitting half-centuries.
Electing to bat, Rajasthan Royals were off to a flying start with Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi adding 70 off 38 balls before Sooryavanshi fell for an 18-ball 31 with five fours and a six.
Dhruv Jurel top scored for Rajasthan Royals with 75. Pics: BCCI
Jaiswal and Jurel then added 56 for the second wicket off 37 balls before Jaiswal fell for 55 off 36 balls wtih six boundaries and three sixes.
Jurel took charge of the proceedings and though skipper Riyan Parag (8) fell cheaply. Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer (18) added a 13-ball 30 to power Royals past the 200-run mark. Jurel was taken out by Mohammed Siraj after making 75 off 42 balls with five fours and five sixes.
Brief scores: Rajasthan Royals 210 for six in 20 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 55, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 31, Dhruv Jurel 75; Kagiso Rabada 2/42) beat Gujarat Titans 204 for eight in 20 overs (Sai Dudharsan 73, Jos Buttler 26, Rashid Khan 24, Kagiso Rabada 23 not out; Ravi Bishnoi 4/41).