*GT VS MI QUALIFIER 2- REVIEW*
*GILL EFFORTLESSLY HELPS GT SAIL PAST MI:*
GT have booked their spot in yet another final, their second in just two years and what a day to be a Titans fan. Driven by the pure mastery of Shubman Gill and the bonus benefits that GT bowlers provided, Hardik Pandya is now on the verge of doing a CSK or MI, by defending an IPL title.
The GT innings began on a slow note, accumulating just 27 off the first four but then came a third over straight for Behrendroff, that was taken for 11 runs and another 12 taken off Jordan where Gill was dropped by David. Little did they know that this 23 year old is going to make them pay a heavy price for it. GT were back on track as 50 had been breached within the first powerplay. Saha fell the very next over to Piyush but what followed this was pure bliss. Sudarshan partnering Gill in what turned out to be a partnership for ages with the latter dispatching the entire MI bowling group and taking them to the cleaners. They batted for about 10 overs together and the score soared to a mammoth 198 by that time. Gill was the chief enforcer as he manufactured shots all over the park, along the ground as well, hitting 7 fours and 10 sixes in the process. Sudarshan who was playing a fabulous support role marched away to a fine 43 off 31. The TNPL star was retired soon at the back end, for more firepower in the form of Rashid to come in. Gill, for all the time he lasted, toyed with the field. He stepped out against the spinners and “stood and delivered” against the quicks. The hero from last game Akash Madhwal was quick to get off the blocks but was silenced today as Gill’s class was all over display- sparing no one. By the time he departed, GT were eyeing 240 but a comeback of some sorts from MI in the last 4 overs denied a 240ish score and haulted their destructive prowess at 233. Hardik’s boundary counts towards the end boosted GT’s total as well as their hopes to book a spot in the final, which after an impressive bowling performance, they eventually did.
*MOHIT-RASHID INSTRUMENTAL IN A 62 RUN BASHING:*
MI suffered the fate which they wouldn’t have liked, losing wickets in the powerplay. Nehal Wadhera with a promotion today but failed to capitalise and the ever so inconsistent skipper Rohit departing after scoring just a single boundary. He has been a disappointment as an IPL batter over the last 7 years or so. Then came an injury to Cameron Green for which he had to sit out. But the partnership between Tilak and Surya was one to savour. Till the time Tilak lasted, he absolutely peppered the boundaries at will and showed signs of something special. Collecting 43 off 14, the southpaw threatening GT for a while after which the Green and SKY partnership took over. They were scoring at a healthy run rate, milking out the runs off Noor and Rashid, the two premier spinners of GT but the introduction of Joshua Little eventually brought relief to Hardik and co as they saw the back of Green. Post that, the MI batting order hardly looked threatening as SKY was fighting a lone battle which ended with the introduction of Mohit Sharma, the veteran right arm seamer. He mixed his lines and lengths really well to hand MI a big loss as he went onto pick a masterful fifer in the process as well.