IPL 2022: Miller hits 94* off 51, GT beat CSK by 3 wickets in nail-biter

Gujarat Titans chased down Chennai Super Kings’ 169 for 5 with three wickets in hand in a last-over thriller riding on David Miller’s heroic innings at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, Sunday. This means Ruturaj Gaikwad’s 73 off 48 and 46 off
31 by Ambati Rayudu went in vain.

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Batting first, CSK post 169 for 5 against Gujarat Titans. When GT came to
chase the modest target, Maheesh Theekshana, Mukesh Choudhary, Dwayne Bravo and
Moeen Ali bowled economical spells to build the pressure on their batters. Under pressure, GT lost their top order for 85 runs in 13 overs. However, a brilliant innings (94 off 51 balls) by Miller helped GT chase down the target, with 23 needing off the last 12 balls.

Gaikwad and Rayudu rebuild the CSK innings

Put to bat first, CSK got off to
a poor start as they lost Robin Uthappa and Moeen Ali in the PowerPlay.
However, a 92-run fourth-wicket partnership between Gaikwad and Rayudu brought
CSK back in the game. Last season’s Orange Cap winner, Gaikwad played an
aggressive knock, smashing five sixes and as many boundaries. Rayudu hit two
sixes and four boundaries.

The partnership was broken in the 15th
over when Alzarri Joseph dismissed Rayudu. Gaikwad departed soon too in the
17th over when Yash Dayal struck. Joseph picked up two wickets giving away 34
runs in four overs. Mohammed Shami turned out to be the most economical bowler for GT as the Indian paceman picked the wicket of Uthappa and conceded just 20 runs in his four overs.

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Captain Ravindra Jadeja scored an
unbeaten 22 which helped CSK set a 170- run target for GT.

GT top-order fails

In reply, GT lost three quick wickets in
the PowerPlay. Shubman Gill and Vijay Shankar even failed to open their scores. Wriddhiman Saha, who made his debut for GT in the game, also failed for 11, opening
the innings. Abhinav Manohar and Rahul Tewatia’s dismissal further dented GT’s
chance in the match.

While captain Jadeja scalped the wicket of
Saha, Theekshana scalped a brace while Mukesh Choudhary dismissed Gill.

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David Miller chips in

With GT five down for 85 runs in 13 overs, David Miller came to their rescue. The South African batter changed the hue of the
game, playing a quickfire innings. He pummelled CSK bowlers all around the park. Miller hit six sixes and eight boundaries during his unbeaten knock. 

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Rashid Khan, who led GT on Sunday in
absence of Hardik Pandya, played a blitzkrieg knock of 40 off 21 balls before being dismissed by Bravo in the 19th over. The duo showed hope for a win for GT.
And they were eventually successful as the Ahmedabad side defeated CSK by seven wickets to stay at top of the points table with 10 points in six matches.