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Qualifier 1 preview: Gujarat Titans, Rajasthan Royals aim for spot in the final

Asked to bat first, RR finished with 188/6.

In reply, GT finished with 191/3 (19.3).


Match summary

Gujarat Titans qualified for the IPL 2022 final with a seven-wicket victory against Rajasthan Royals in the first qualifier at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Tuesday.

Rajasthan scored 188/6 after being asked to bat first. Gujarat completed the chase with three balls to spare with David Miller scoring an unbeaten 68 off 38 balls.

Hardik Pandya won the toss and opted to bowl at Eden Gardens. RR lost Yashasvi Jaiswal (3) early but Sanju Samson dominated the GT bowlers with his aggressive batting, hitting plenty of boundaries during a second-wicket partnership of 68 runs with Jos Buttler.

Samson got out after scoring an entertaining 47 off only 26 balls, while leading scorer Buttler smashed his way to 89 in 56 deliveries. Rashid Khan bowled well and finished with figures of 0/15 in from his four overs.

Brief scores:

Rajasthan Royals: 188/6 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 47, Jos Buttler 89).

Gujarat Titans: 191/3 in 19.3 overs (David Miller 68 not out, Hardik Pandya 40 not out).

Watch match highlights here

11.31 pm: David Miller finishes the match in style by completing a hat-trick of sixes. Wow! He remains unbeaten on 68 off 38, Hardik Pandya is not out on 40 off 27. Prasidh Krishna finishes with 0/40 off 3.3 overs. Rajasthan Royals will have another crack at reaching the final. Gujarat Titans, in their first IPL season, are through to the final!

GT WIN BY 7 WICKETS

After 19.2 overs, GT are 185/3: SIX! Miller! Wow! Prasidh goes short this time and the left-hander pulls it all the way. GT need 4 off 4.

After 19.1 overs, GT are 179/3: SIX! Prasidh bowls it perfectly in the slot and Miller goes bang! A 96-meter six over long-on. GT need 10 off 5 now.

A 35-ball half century for David Miller who has had a fine, fine season for GT.

Sportspics for IPL

After 19 overs, GT are 173/3: FIFTY for Miller! He smashes a glorious cover drive for four, but that was a fantastic over from McCoy – just seven runs from it. Gujarat now need 16 runs off the final over. This match has been entertaining from start to finish and it is set up for a thrilling finish.

After 18 overs, GT are 166/3: Chahal concedes just singles off the first four balls but tosses the next one full and wide and Miller hits it well over long-on for six. The leg-spinner finishes with 0/32. Gujarat need 23 off 12. McCoy to bowl the penultimate over.

After 17 overs, GT are 155/3: Nine runs from that McCoy over as Miller gets one past short-third for four. Gujarat need 34 off 18. Chahal is coming on to bowl his last over, RR need him to strike.

After 16 overs, GT are 146/3: Fine fielding by RR! First Riyan Parag at long-on and then Shimron Hetmyer at deep extra cover save two runs each with diving stops. Seven runs from that Boult over.

After 15 overs, GT are 139/3: Six! Chahal is brought back into the attack, he tosses one right up and Miller slams it straight over for a maximum. Ten runs from that over. That will hurt Rajasthan, they needed Chahal to strike.

Not been Ashwin’s day, 0/40 in his 4 overs. And now GT needed 60 off 6 overs. Surely, theirs to lose at this point?

Sportzpics for IPL

After 14 overs, GT are 129/3: Big over for Gujarat! Ashwin bowls a juicy full toss and Pandya whacks it through mid-wicket for four. Miller then ends the over with a powerful drive straight down for four.

After 13 overs, GT are 115/3: Another good over for RR, this time McCoy concedes just six runs. Gujarat have wickets in hand but they will need to pick up pace soon.

After 12 overs, GT are 109/3: Top over from Ashwin, just five runs from it. Pandya and Miller deciding to not take any risk against the off-spinner in that over. Gujarat need 80 off 48.

After 11 overs, GT are 104/3: Hardik slashes hard and gets a thick outside edge for four. The Gujarat skipper is playing a crucial knock for his team. Seven runs from that Prasidh over. Rajasthan will be desperate for another wicket now.

After 10 overs, GT are 97/3: Hardik gets two fours! McCoy drifts on to the pads and the right-hander clips it wide of short-fine, before he plays a powerful drive and is helped by a misfield from Prasidh Krishna at mid-off.

After 9.3 overs, GT are 85/3: WICKET! Obed McCoy bangs it in, Matthew Wade goes for the pull, and Jos Buttler takes a fine catch in the deep. Big blow for Gujarat as Wade walks back for 35 off 30.

After 9 overs, GT are 79/2: The pressure was being built superbly by Chahal in that over, it ends with a four for Wade. But still, a good phase for RR this. Pulling things back after a huge powerplay. 15 from the last 3 overs.

After 7.4 overs, GT are 72/2: Oh dear! A mix-up and Gill is walking back. Miscommunication, Gill called for 2 right away , Wade started to return but when he said no, it was too late.

After 7 overs, GT are 68/1: The classic quiet 7th over. Four runs off Chahal’s first.

After 6 overs, GT are 64/1: Big over! The highlight, an inside out six by Gill off Ashwin. Followed by a couple of fours. 17 from that over.

Gujarat Titans lost a wicket in the first over (that of Saha) but they have bounced back brilliantly to own the powerplay. Some breathtaking shots by Shubman Gill who is on 31 off 16.

Ashwin into the attack. After 5 overs, GT are 47/1 (Score corrected)

After 5 overs, GT are 47/1: A huge over for GT. Wade starts with a four off Boult. Gill then gets a bit lucky, cut into half but the inside edge flies past Samson for four. Nothing streaky about Gill’s other boundary.

(Score corrected)

After 4 overs, GT are 31/1: Fine over from Prasidh after an expensive start earlier, he concedes just two runs this time. Wade played a powerful drive off the last delivery but Buttler kept it down to one with a brilliant full-length dive running wide from mid-off.

After 3 overs, GT are 29/1: It seemed Boult would finish off another good over but Wade manages to guide one through the slip cordon for four before picking another boundary with a flick through mid-wicket. Gujarat are moving along nicely.

After 2 overs, GT are 18/1: Gill cuts one for four before getting a leading edge that falls just behind Jaiswal at cover. Prasidh then bangs one in and strikes Wade flush on the arm, that looked painful. The right-arm pacer then leaks five wides down leg before Wade pulls the extra delivery for four. That will surely frustrate Samson.

After 1 over, GT 4/1: Wade is in and he hits a four over point to get things going for Gujarat. But an eventful first over as is often the case from Boult.

After 0.2 overs, GT 0/1: Boult strikes in the first over again! What a weapon in the powerplay. Saha is caught behind by captain Samson.

Trent Boult to start off.

Buttler at end of 16 overs: 39 (38)

Buttler at end of 20 overs: 89 (56)

9.25 pm: That was a ridiculously long and rather comical last over. Yash Dayal conceded 16 runs in it as Jos Buttler first got run-out on 89 off 56 before Riyan Parag (4 off 3) was run-out too. Dayal should’ve finished the over earlier but he first bowled a no ball and then a wide to extend it but both deliveries got wickets somehow. Anyway, Rajasthan will be happy with that total. Buttler was struggling for the most part but his knock could prove to be a match-winning one.

RR finish with 188/6

After 19 overs, RR are 172/3: It’s all going Buttler’s way at the moment, he gets a top edge over short-third for four before slamming the next ball straight over for six. Last six deliveries of the innings coming up, Yash Dayal has the ball. Rajasthan will be eyeing 190.

After 18.3 overs, RR are 161/4: WICKET! Shami gets Hetmyer as Tewatia takes the catch in the deep. Buttler was dropped by Rashid earlier (it was a tough chance, to be fair) but Hetmyer doesn’t get lucky. He departs for 4 off 7. The new batter is Riyan Parag.

After 18 overs, RR are 159/3: Buttler is turning it on! Three more fours for him, this time off Alzarri. The right-hander is staying still deep in the crease and swinging his bat freely. This is just what RR would’ve hoped for.

Sportzpics for IPL

After 17 overs, RR are 145/3: FIFTY for Butter! He gets his fourth half-century this season off 42 balls. Four fours for the right-hander in that Dayal over, that should set him up to go big in the last three overs. Can RR get to 180?

After 16 overs, RR are 127/3: The end of a high class spell from Rashid Khan, he returns with figures of 0/15 from his four overs. Buttler has to get going now, his knock is holding his team back big-time.

After 15 overs, RR are 124/3: Buttler gets a much-needed boundary with a wonderfully-time flick past square leg. The right-hander moves to 37 off 35. With seven wickets in hand, Rajasthan would want to get at lease 50-60 runs off the last five overs.

After 14.1 overs, RR are 116/3: WICKET! Hardik removes Padikkal! The left-hander attempts a pull and drags it on. The left-hander departs for 28 off 20. The new batter is Hetmyer.

After 14 overs, RR are 116/2: Padikkal hits another sweep for six, before getting an outside edge past short-third for four and then cutting one powerfully for four. The left-hander is keeping the scoreboard ticking as Buttler continues to struggle. Meanwhile, Sai Kishore finish with figures of 1/43 from his four overs.

After 13 overs, RR are 98/2: Hardik joins the attack and nearly removes Buttler. The right-hander got a top edge and Shami ran in from fine-leg but the ball fell just short of him. But a good over from the GT skipper, just six runs from it.

After 12 overs, RR are 92/2: Padikkal gives RR a much-needed push by playing a superb sweep for six. But Sai Kishore responds well and concedes just three runs off the next five deliveries.

After 11 overs, RR are 83/2: Another tidy over from Rashid, he’s keeping a tight line and mixing things up nicely as he usually does. The new batter for RR is Padikkal, but it’s Buttler who has to get a move on. He is batting on 25 off 27.

After 9.5 overs, RR are 79/2: WICKET! Sai Kishore gets the big wicket of Sanju Samson! The right-hander attempts another big shot but finds Alzarri Joseph at long-on. The RR skipper walks back after an entertaining 47 off 27.

After 9 overs, RR are 75/1: Top over from Rashid, just two runs from it. It seems Rajasthan have decided to play out the ace leg-spinner.

After 8 overs, RR are 73/1: Sai Kishore is brought into the attack and Samson goes after the left-arm spinner. Samson is timing the ball magnificently and he picks up two more fours on the off side.

After 7 overs, RR are 61/1: Rashid joins the attack and bowls a much-needed quiet over for Gujarat. Samson and Buttler, meanwhile, bring up their 50-run partnership off just 32 deliveries.

After 6 overs, RR are 55/1: It’s a Samson show all the way! Two more sixes for the right-hander, this time he goes after Alzarri. The right-arm pacer pitched it short both times and got the treatment. The RR skipper seems in the mood and has raced to 30 off 13.

After 5 overs, RR are 42/1: Samson is dealing exclusively in boundaries! He slaps one past mid-on for four before whipping one past mid-wicket for another four. Expensive over from Shami, it began with five wides down leg.

After 4 overs, RR are 28/1: Samson plays a stunning shot first up for six and follows that up with a cracking four past mid-off. But Dayal does well to bowl four dot balls in that over.

After 3 overs, RR are 18/1: Third time Buttler pierces the off side ring and he gets his third boundary. Shami the bowler again. But the right-arm pacer sticks to a probing line outside off and finishes off the over strongly.

After 2 overs, RR are 11/1: WICKET! Jaiswal is gone! Wonderful delivery from Yash Dayal as he gets it to shape away and the left-hander edges it to Saha. The umpire hadn’t raised his finger but Jaiswal walks. He made 3 off 8.

After 1 over, RR are 9/0: Buttler is up and running in style! Shami with a pretty good first over but he ends up conceding two boundaries as Butter finds the gaps on the off side. Classy strokes by the right-hander.

7.29 pm: We’re ready for play at the Eden Gardens! Hardik Pandya leads Gujarat Titans out as Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal make their way to the pitch. Mohammed Shami will bowl the first over. This promises to be a cracking contest. Here we go!

Playing XIs

Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (w/c), Devdutt Padikkal, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, Obed McCoy.

Gujarat Titans: Wriddhiman Saha (w), Shubman Gill, Matthew Wade, Hardik Pandya (c), David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Yash Dayal, Alzarri Joseph, Mohammed Shami.

Sportzpics for IPL

Sanju Samson at the toss: “We just want to focus on this match and not look too far ahead. Have told the boys to take it easy and enjoy the game today. We’re playing with the same team.”

Hardik Pandya at the toss: “There hasn’t been a match here for a while so we just want to see how the pitch is behaving by bowling first. Wriddhiman Saha is fit and playing. Just one change – Alzarri Joseph replaces Lockie Ferguson.”

TOSS:

Hardik Pandya has won the toss and Gujarat Titans will bowl first!

GT vs RR in IPL 2022 league stage: Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals played each other just once during the league stage, with the former coming out on top at the DY Patil Stadium. It was match No 24 of the season and RR won the toss and opted to bowl first. Gujarat found themselves in a spot of bother at 15/2 and then 53/3 but then skipper Pandya took control and scored an unbeaten 87 off 52 to help his team finish with 192/4. Abhinav Manohar (43 off 28) and David Miller (31* off 14) also made key contributions. Yash Dayal and Lockie Ferguson then picked up three wickets apiece as Rajasthan were restricted to 155/9 and GT won by 37 runs. Jos Buttler scored a half-century at the top of the order and Shimron Hetmyer got a 17-ball 29 but it wasn’t enough. Pandya was declared the player of the match for his knock.

IPL 2022 points table after league stage

Team   Pld   Won   Lost   Net RR   Pts  
1   GT   14   10   4   0.316   20  
2   RR   14   9   5   0.298   18  
3   LSG   14   9   5   0.251   18  
4   RCB   14   8   6   -0.253   16  
5   DC   14   7   7   0.204   14  
6   PBKS   14   7   7   0.126   14  
7   KKR   14   6   8   0.146   12  
8   SRH   14   6   8   -0.379   12  
9   CSK   14   4   10   -0.203   8  
10   MI   14   4   10   -0.506   8

6.50 pm: Hello and welcome to live coverage of Indian Premier League 2022 Qualifier 1 between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.