By Neil Manthorp.
Photo Credit: IANS.
Rashid Khan smashed 31 off just 11 balls with four sixes in the final over to propel the Gujarat Titans to a remarkable five-wicket victory in their IPL match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday.
The Titans posted 195 for five and the Sunrisers replied with 199 for five with a final-ball six.
The Titans required 22 from the final over bowled by Marco Jansen and Rashid smashed the first delivery over long-on for six to put the pressure back on the bowler.
Two further maximums all but sealed the victory but there were still three required from the final ball – and Rashid crunched it for another six.
Fast bowling sensation Umran Malik earlier took 5-25 earlier to power the Sunrisers to a seemingly winning position with the Titans on 140 for five with just four overs remaining but Rashid changed the normal course of events.
Half centuries from opener Abhishek Sharma and Aiden Markram helped the Sunrisers post a daunting total of 195 for six.
Malik clean bowled top scorer Wriddhiman Saha for 68 and fellow opener Shubman Gill for 22 and ruinously beat Hardik Pandya (10) for pace to have him caught at third man. David Miller, too, was bowled for 17 and Abhinav Manohar was clean bowled first ball.
But just when the job seemed to be done, it wasn’t.
Mohammad Shami struck twice in the first innings Power Play bowling Kane Williamson (5) with nip-backer and trapping Rahul Tripathi lbw on review for 16 which included a six and two fours but Abhishek and Aiden Markram added a galloping 96 for the third wicket in just 10 overs. At 140 for two with five overs remaining the perfect platform was set.
Abhishek accelerated clinically as his innings progressed and was particularly fearless against Afghan legspinner Rahid who suffered an extremely rare, expensive evening conceding 45 runs from his four overs without taking a wicket.
The opener eventually dragged a full delivery from seamer Alzarri Joseph onto his stumps to depart for 65 from 42 balls with six fours and three sixes.
But Markram continued his imperious form, smashing two fours and three sixes before toe-ending a lofted cover-drive against left-arm seamer Yash Dayal to countryman David Miller to depart for 56 from 40 balls.
Shashank Singh delivered a remarkable sting in the tail to give the total extra gloss in the final two overs striking a four and three sixes in his unbeaten 25 from just six balls while Marco Jansen (eight not out) contributed a six to the late carnage.
Both teams are in a rich vein of form with the Titans remaining in top position alongside the Sunrisers and Rajasthan Royals.