GT vs SRH: Gujarat Titans officially became the first team to enter the IPL 2023 play-offs when they defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by 34 runs on Monday at the Narendra Modi Staidum in Ahmedabad. Titans had set a winning target of 189 runs for Sunrisers, which the latter failed to meet. Gujarat had scored 188 runs for the loss of 9 wickets, and Hyderabad could only score 154 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs, despite a knock of 64 runs off 44 balls by Heinrich Klaasen.
In the first innings, Shubman Gill scored a blockbuster century before Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s brilliant five-wicket haul GT stopped at 188 for nine. Gill was dismissed shortly after making 101 runs.
The GT duo of Gill and Sai Sudharsan contributed 47 off 36 balls and added 147 runs for the second wicket to power GT’s innings. SRH’s Kumar who took wickets back-to-back and made a clean hatrick, stole many hearts and received thunderous applause and cheers from the audience, and of course the internet!
Sunrisers have now sadly joined Delhi Capitals in the exit queue. At this point, seven others are vying for the remaining playoff spots. Although they won the coin toss and elected to bowl first, the match ultimately went in favor of the GTs. Luck did not play a major role for Hyderabad today.
Heinrich Klaasen (66 from 44) played a lone hand for SRH, while Mohammed Shami (4/21) and Mohit Sharma (4/28) each took four wickets to shine with the ball for GT. SRH got off to a disastrous start, losing wickets to Anmolpreet Singh, Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi in the third over, with the score at just 12.
(with PTI inputs)
