IPL 2023 GT vs LSG: Mohit Sharma’s 4-wicket haul, fireworks by Gill, Saha guide Titans to 56-run win

New Delhi: Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha played cracking knocks to lead Gujarat Titans to a score of 227 and Mohit Sharma picked a four-wicket haul to restrict Lucknow Super Giants to 171/7. While Kyle Mayers and Quinton de Kock gave a good start to LSG, they could not capitalise after Mayers departed after hitting 48 off 32. Wickets at regular intervals tightened GT’s grip over the game in the middle overs and they eventually won by 56 runs.

Mayers and de Kock used the powerplay well and posted an 88-run stand in eight overs. In the ninth over, Mayers found a top edge and Rashid Khan ran about 26 meters to take a sliding catch. Mohammed Shami returned to pick Deepak Hooda for a run-a-ball 11 and Mohit Sharma struck with a slower ball to dismiss Marcus Stoinis.

Exceptional grab ?

The @gujarat_titans needed a special effort to break the opening partnership & @rashidkhan_19 does exactly that ?#TATAIPL | #GTvLSG pic.twitter.com/ldRQ5OUae8

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 7, 2023

The drought of runs in the middle over threw LSG pretty much out of the game and Rashid Khan got de Kock bowled around the stumps to practically put a stamp on GT’s home win. Bowling the 19th over, Mohit Sharma picked Ayush Badoni and skipper Krunal Pandya consecutively to end with the figures of 29/4.

The pitch showed signs of slowing down and Sharma, who was known for his back-of-the-hand slower deliveries, returned to IPL in style and showed he still got it.

In the first inning, Gill and Saha attacked the pacers and accumulated 78 runs in the powerplay. Saha hit a 20-ball fifty and scored 81 off 43, hitting 10 fours and 4 sixes before getting out to Avesh Khan as substitute fielder Prerak Mankad picked a brilliant low catch. Shubman Gill fire-powered till the end and scored 94* off 51, hitting  7 sixes and 2 fours. Gill and Saha had a 142-run opening stand after which Hardik Pandya came and blasted 25 off 15.

David Miller played a cameo of 21* off 12 as he finished the inning with Gill. The batters did not go for scoops or any rash shots but rather relied on timing and placing the ball to shorter boundaries.

The Pandya brothers faced each other as captains of the opposite teams and Krunal picked Hardik’s catch to get him out, brewing up a sweet rivalry.

Avesh Khan ended up with 34/1, while Krunal Pandya ended his four overs with 38 runs while everyone else went for runs. Surprisingly, Swapnil Singh, who went for seven runs in an over did not get another one as the skipper turned to Marcus Stoinis who went for 20 in an over.