Gill, Siraj star as Gujarat bag 7-wicket win over Sunrisers

Hyderabad, April 6: Gujarat Titans showcased a clinical display of both bat and ball to secure a comfortable seven-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in their Indian Premier League fixture at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday.
Electing to bowl first after winning the toss, Gujarat’s bowling unit delivered a disciplined and incisive performance to restrict the home side to a modest 152 for eight in their allotted 20 overs. The star of the show was speedster Mohammed Siraj, who tormented the SRH batting line-up with a fiery spell, returning with exceptional figures of 4 for 17 from his four overs.
He found able support from pacer Prasidh Krishna (2/25) and left-arm spinner Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore (2/24), both of whom chipped in with timely breakthroughs to stall Hyderabad’s progress at regular intervals. The Titans’ bowlers maintained a tight line and length throughout, never allowing the SRH batters to settle into a rhythm.
For Sunrisers, young Nitish Kumar Reddy showed some resistance with a top score of 31, while Heinrich Klaasen contributed 27 runs in the middle order. However, their efforts weren’t enough to lift the total to a more challenging figure, with wickets tumbling under consistent pressure from the Titans’ bowling attack.
In reply, Gujarat Titans began their chase with intent and never looked in trouble. Captain Shubman Gill anchored the innings with a fluent and unbeaten 61, showcasing maturity and class as he guided his side home with more than three overs to spare.
Gill was well-supported by Washington Sundar, who played a quickfire knock of 49 off just 29 balls, peppered with boundaries and a couple of sixes. The duo stitched together a crucial partnership that laid the foundation for the chase.Later, it was the explosive Sherfane Rutherford who finished the job in style. The Caribbean left-hander remained unbeaten on a brisk 35 off just 16 deliveries, striking the ball cleanly and ensuring there were no late hiccups. GT eventually overhauled the target in 16.4 overs, finishing at 153 for 3. (Agencies)