Gujarat Titans took four wickets in a dramatic final over to clinch a seven-run win against the Lucknow Super Giants, denying their opponents top spot in the Indian Premier League as Mohit Sharma starred.
The Titans were limited to 135-6 on a tricky surface, and the Super Giants looked set to edge a low-scoring affair when KL Rahul started the run chase strongly.
However, a man-of-the-match display from Mohit – who took 2-17 and closed out a final over containing four dismissals – ensured the Titans snatched a dramatic success at the last.
The Titans made a poor start with the bat as Shubman Gill went for a duck, handing Ravi Bishnoi a catch in the deep from just his second ball, but his exit allowed Wriddhiman Saha and Hardik Pandya to take up the mantle.
Saha was caught off Krunal Pandya's bowling three runs shy of his half-century, but Hardik remained steady as the wickets tumbled around him, hitting 66 off 50 balls to keep the Titans in contention.
Hardik's knock looked an excellent one on a slow surface, but the Titans skipper saw brother Krunal join Marcus Stoinis in claiming two wickets to leave the Super Giants chasing an attainable total.
Rahul led the run chase, accumulating 68 off 61 balls, but the Titans teed up a tense finish when Nicholas Pooran (1) swept into the hands of Hardik with three overs remaining.
Having kept things tight to leave the Super Giants needing 10 from five deliveries, Mohit decided the contest by having Rahul and Stoinis (0) caught off successive balls, with Ayush Badoni and Deepak Hooda run out at the last as the Titans claimed a remarkable win.
Mohit the star as Titans hold on
When Mohit regained the ball after 17 overs, the Super Giants were chasing 23 runs from 18 balls with seven wickets in hand and looked destined to leapfrog the Rajasthan Royals at the top of the IPL standings.
However, Mohit conceded just eight runs over his final two overs with the ball, with his figures of 2-17 – and his role in having Badoni and Hooda run out at the last – guiding his team to victory.
Hardik edges family affair
Saturday's game saw Hardik pitted against older brother Krunal, who looked set to edge this family affair after getting two wickets and supporting Rahul with a knock of 23.
However, a series of late wickets ensured Hardik's Titans came out on top, maintaining his excellent record as skipper.
Hardik has won 75 per cent of his games as captain in the IPL (15/20) – the best such rate of any player to have led their side in the competition.
Andre Russell ventures into Bollywood music scene with SRK's support
West Indies and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Andre Russell is set to make waves in Bollywood, following in the footsteps of Trinidadian cricketer Dwayne Bravo, who achieved success with his hit song 'Champion' in India.
Known for adding energy and entertainment to the dressing room, West Indian cricketers have a history of making their mark beyond the cricket field, with stars like Chris Gayle, DJ Bravo, Kieron Pollard, and Darren Sammy shining in the IPL. The latest to join this list is Andre Russell, the dynamic KKR sensation.
Russell is stepping into the music world by lending his vocals to a song composed by Palaash Muchhal. He will also be featured alongside actress Avika Gor in the accompanying music video.
What makes Russell's foray into music even more exciting is the backing of Bollywood titan Shahrukh Khan, the owner of Kolkata Knight Riders. Known for his larger-than-life persona, SRK is not just a team owner but also a key figure in the entertainment industry. Russell and SRK share a strong camaraderie, often seen enjoying each other's company and having fun moments together.
Recently, a video of Russell singing SRK's iconic song "Lut Put Gaya" from the movie 'Dunki' went viral, showcasing his passion for music. With SRK's support and Russell's infectious energy, fans can anticipate an exciting collaboration between the cricket star and the Bollywood icon.
Andre Russell's venture into Bollywood music adds a new dimension to his versatile talents and promises to be a delightful treat for his fans in India and across the globe.
IPL: Kumar the hero as Sunrisers stun Royals for final-ball win
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the hero as Sunrisers Hyderabad came back from the brink to secure a final-ball win over Indian Premier League leaders Rajasthan Royals on Thursday.
Kumar left the Royals reeling at 1-2 as they chased 202 for victory, dismissing both Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson for first-over ducks, flattening middle wicket to send the latter walking five balls in.
A 127-run partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag then seemed to have the Royals closing in on a fifth straight win, only for their chase to unravel in spectacular fashion.
Two wickets apiece from Thangarasu Natarajan and Pat Cummins left the Royals needing 20 runs off 11 balls, and Rovman Powell came up with a thrilling cameo, the highlight being an unbelievable dive to avoid being run out on the penultimate delivery, which took Rajasthan within two runs of victory and one of a super over.
However, there was one more twist to come as Powell swung at Kumar's full toss, which clipped his back leg and was confirmed as out following a review, sealing a memorable win for Sunrisers.
The Sunrisers had also found themselves in a hole in their own innings, only for Nitish Kumar Reddy (76) and Heinrich Klaasen (42) to finish unbeaten and bring up a total they were just about able to defend.
Data Debrief: Kumar bookends back-and-forth innings
For much of the Rajasthan innings, it looked like Kumar's early dismissals of Buttler and Samson would count for nought, with some expensive overs from Cummins and Marco Jansen leaving the Royals on the brink.
However, Kumar stepped up when it was all on the line on the final delivery, leaving Powell in a tangle to end Hyderabad's two-match losing streak and lift them into the top four.
Pakistan bowlers shine to hand West Indies first loss of tour in fourth T20I
West Indies Women suffered their first loss on their tour of Pakistan as the hosts secured an eight-wicket win in the fourth T20 International at the Karachi National Stadium on Thursday.
Excellent Pakistan bowling meant the tourists were restricted to just 84-9 off their 20 overs after winning the toss and batting first.
Shemaine Campbelle (26), Zaida James (19) and Jannilea Glasgow (10) were the only West Indian batters to get double-figures as Sadia Iqbal and Nida Dar dominated with 3-18 from four overs and 3-19 from four overs, respectively.
Pakistan then needed only 16.3 overs to reach 87-2 and secure their first win of the series. Ayesha Zafar led the way with 42* off 48 balls while Gull Feroza finished 21* off 24 balls.
Afy Fletcher and Shamilia Connell took a wicket, each, for the Windies.
Full Scores: West Indies Women 84-9 (Shemaine Campbelle 26, Sadia Iqbal 3-18, Nida Dar 3-19)
Pakistan Women 87-2 (Ayesha Zafar 42*, Gull Feroza 21*, Afy Fletcher 1-6, Shamilia Connell 1-8)
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