Ahmedabad, India (AP) — Shimron Hetmyer smashed 56 not out off 26 deliveries as Rajasthan Royals beat defending champion Gujarat Titans by three wickets with four balls to spare at Ahmedabad in Sunday’s second IPL game.
It was a replay of last season’s final albeit with Rajasthan coming out on top this time, thanks also to skipper Sanju Samson’s 60 runs off 32 balls.
In reply to Gujarat’s 177-7, Rajasthan was in trouble at 55-4 in 10.3 overs. Samson and Hetmyer put on 59 runs off 27 balls to rescue the innings.
Samson struck six sixes and three fours to accelerate the chase. After his dismissal, Hetmyer put on another 47 off 20 balls with Dhruv Jorel (18) to close the gap. The West Indian stayed till the end, hitting five sixes and two fours overall.
Earlier, Shubman Gill’s 45 and David Miller’s 30-ball 46 helped Gujarat to a fighting total after losing the toss. It was a start-stop innings which never really generated enough momentum.
Rajasthan tops the standings with eight points after four wins in five games. Gujarat is third with six points.
Meanwhile, Samson’s three sixes in the 13th over bowled by Rashid Khan brought RR back into the game. Hailing his captain, RR head coach Kumar Sangakkara spoke about the game in the dressing room.
“Skipper, your were exceptional against Rashid Khan. The best bowler in the world was hit for three sixes in one over. It shows, when you are in the game, anything is possible. Whether it’s Rashid Khan, Shane Warne, or Muralitharan. We play the ball and not the man. When you are in form, the opponent doesn’t matter,” he said.