Gujarat and Rajasthan locked horns in the Qualifier 1 of the Indian T20 League 2022 at the Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata. The Indian T20 League debutants won the toss and elected to bowl first. They had a great start as Yashasvi Jaiswal (3) was caught behind by Wriddhiman Saha off Yash Dayal in the last ball of the second over. Skipper Sanju Samson came and stitched a partnership of 68 runs with Jos Buttler.
Samson scored 47 off just 26 balls including five fours and three sixes. The right-hander was caught at long-on by Alzarri Joseph off Sai Kishore in the 10th over. Devdutt Padikkal, who came in after Samson’s wicket scored 28 0ff 20 balls before chopping the ball onto the stumps facing opposition skipper Hardik Pandya in the 15th over. Buttler, who was struggling with the bat, started to accelerate after the 16th over.
The highest run-getter of the season went from 39 off 38 balls to 89 off 56 balls including 12 fours and two sixes. The team scored 61 runs in the last four overs and reached a total of 188/6, with Buttler getting run out in the last over. Shimron Hetmyer (4) and Riyan Parag (4) failed to cross the double-digit mark. In reply, the Hardik Pandya-led side had a poor start as Saha (0) was caught behind by Samson off Trent Boult in the first over.
Shubhman Gill and Matthew Wade stitched a partnership of 72 runs in 7.2 overs. Gill scored 35 off 21 balls including five fours and a six before he was run out after a misunderstanding with Wade in the eighth over. Wade (35) was caught at deep midwicket by Buttler off Obed McCoy in the 10th over. At 85/3, the likes of skipper Pandya and David Miller stitched a match-winning partnership of 106 runs. Miller was struggling with the bat in the initial phase.
However, his skipper’s fluent batting helped him to take his time, and settle. They kept the required rate within 10 to 11 per over. However, in the last over, they needed 16 runs thanks to the brilliant bowling from McCoy in the penultimate over. Nevertheless, Miller scored three sixes in the first three balls to take the team to the Indian T20 League final.
This is how Twitter reacted
Admiration for @gujarat_titans growing with every game and every passage of play.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 24, 2022
Amazing attitude on the field ?#riyanparag #RRvGT
— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar) May 24, 2022
If Rajasthan Royals win the game, Jos Buttler will probably be the Player of the Match. But Sanju Samson's attacking 47 (26) was more impactful. He kept scoring runs at a brisk rate even after an early wicket, that too with Buttler struggling to score at the other end.#GTvRR
— Prasenjit Dey (@CricPrasen) May 24, 2022
How iconic that a Gujarat team Lead by a Gujarati Boy will play the IPL final at Ahmedabad in their first ever season #TataIPL #GTvRR
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) May 24, 2022
Gujarat playing like titans. Congratulations @gujarat_titans Miller and Hardik partnership ?
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 24, 2022
Killer Miller killed it for @gujarat_titans! What an incredible knock ?? #DavidMiller #RRvGT #IPL2022
— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R) May 24, 2022
Killer Miller. Gujarat Titans. What. A. Story. What. A. Team ???? Through to the finals… #IPL2022
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 24, 2022
Gujarat have that Midas Touch. They’ve chased down 189 without even a blink. Brilliant #GTvsRR @gujarat_titans
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) May 24, 2022
Congrats @gujarat_titans on getting to the final.
Well played @DavidMillerSA12 ??????#IPLplayoffs #ipl #IPL2022— Mpumelelo Mbangwa (@mmbangwa) May 24, 2022
Great hitting by Miller to win match with a hat trick of 6s. Among the most impactful inninga of the tournament. Rajasthan could hBe batted and bowled better, but fact is they were outplayed by a superior side. Well played Gujarat Titans!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 24, 2022
Amazing the amount of times that @gujarat_titans have been able to chase & win…?? #IPL2022 They are off to the finals baby!!!
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) May 24, 2022
final over sixes and eden gardens, am enduring love story#GTvsRR #IPL2022
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) May 24, 2022
