Gill, Bowlers Star As Gujarat Titans Thrash Lucknow Super Giants, Qualify For Playoffs

Gujarat Titans defeated Lucknow Super Giants by 62 runs while defending a 145-run target.

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After Shubman Gill's fine half-century, a solid bowling performance helped Gujarat Titans dominate Lucknow Super Giants and become the first team to qualify for the playoffs.  

Chasing what seemed like a below-par score of 145, the Super Giants lost three wickets inside the powerplay, including that of Quinton de Kock, KL Rahul, and debutant Karan Sharma. The Titans bowlers, especially Mohammad Shami, weren't giving anything away to the batters as Lucknow finished the first six overs at the score of 3/37. 

The wickets kept falling as Rashid Khan and debutant Sai Kishore found assistance from the pitch. The spin duo wreaked havoc in LSG's middle order and completely pushed them out of the game. Apart from Deepak Hooda, none of the batters looked comfortable while batting, and the lack of support too got the better of him as he got out on 27. 

Lucknow Super Giants got bundled out for 82 runs in 13.5 overs. Rashid finished with the figures of 4/24 in 3.5 overs, Sai Kishore got 2/7 in two overs, Yash Dayal picked 2/24 in two overs, while Shami's figures read 1/5 in three overs. 

Earlier, Shubman Gill scored an unbeaten 62 to take Gujarat to 144/4 in the first inning. Gujarat's top-order failed to get going as Wriddhiman Saha, Mathew Wade, and Hardik Pandya got out cheaply. 

Gill added 52 runs in 41 balls with David Miller for the fourth wicket. Miller scored 26 off 24 balls before he got out. In the final four overs, Gill and Rahul Tewatia added 41 runs. Tewatia smashed 22 in 16 balls to get Gujarat past the 14-run mark. Gill made 62 in 49 balls with the help of seven fours. 

Brief Scorecard: 

Gujarat Titans - 144/4 (Shubman Gill - 62*; Avesh Khan - 2/26)
Lucknow Super Giants - 82/10 in 13.5 overs (Deepak Hooda - 27; Rashid Khan - 4/24)