Gujarat Titans (GT) secured their third consecutive win in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after they beat hosts Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens by seven wickets. The win also saw them go to the top of the league with 12 points in eight matches and will now look to strengthen their position for a Playoff spot. The defeat also leaves KKR four points adrift of the playoff place and have only five matches of the league season to go.

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Chasing 180, GT started well. Shubman Gill made his intentions clear by smashing Harshit Rana for four boundaries in the third over.

However, Andre Russell, the birthday boy struck to end Wriddhiman Saha’s stay at the crease, which lasted 10 balls and yielded 10 runs only. Harshit took a simple catch at midwicket. GT were 41/1 at that point.

Skipper Hardik Pandya joined Gill at the crease and a boundary from the latter helped GT cross the 50-run mark in 5.2 overs.

Varun Chakravarthy, playing his 50th match for KKR, was hit for 24 runs in the next over, including three sixes and a four by Shankar. GT needed 14 runs in the final three overs.

In the next over, Vijay Shankar smashed toyed with KKR skipper Nitish Rana’s bowling, bringing up his half-century in just 24 balls.

GT finished the chase at 180/3 in 17.5 overs, with Shankar (51* in 24 balls, two fours and five sixes) and Miller (32* in 18 balls with two fours and two sixes) unbeaten.

Sunil Narine, Russell and Harshit took a wicket each.

Gurbaz, Russell lead KKR’s charge

An explosive half-century from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and an entertaining cameo by birthday boy Andre Russell powered Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to a competitive 179/7 against Gujarat Titans (GT) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 match at Eden Gardens here on Saturday.

Put to bat first by GT, KKR was off to a shaky start. After Narayan Jagadeesan smashed skipper Hardik Pandya for three boundaries in the second over, Mohammed Shami trapped him leg-before-wicket for 19 (15 balls) that included four boundaries.

Shami was the pick of the bowlers for GT, taking 3/33 in his four overs. Little (2/25) and Noor (2/21) also delivered economical four-over spells. However, it was an off day for Rashid as he gave away 54 runs in four overs without any wicket, with an economy rate of 13.50.

The defending champions GT will next take on Delhi Capitals (DC) at home in the Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday, May 2 before they travel to Rajasthan Royals (RR). KKR will next face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Thursday at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium with them still needing positive results to make the Playoffs.

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