/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24709236/windows11filexplorer.jpg "Modern Windows 11 File Explorer UI and RGB lighting controls target testers")
AHMEDABAD: Pacer Mohit Sharma (5/10) did not allow the starter shubman gill‘s brilliance was wasted when he produced a crucial two-wicket hit to dent any slim chance the Mumbai Indians had of revising a mammoth 234-run target set by the Titans on Friday night.
01:50
Gujarat Titans beat Mumbai Indians to reach IPL final
A shrewd operator who runs diligently, hits the ball hard upfield and hardly celebrates, castled danger Suryakumar Yadav for 61 (38b; 7×4, 2×6) as he attempted a scoop on fine leg. That was the game, set and match for the Titans as they cruised to a 62-run win over their neighbors to the west in the second qualifier to set up a Sunday clash against Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings. This is his second consecutive appearance in the final.
The star of the show, of course, was Gujarat opener Shubman Gill, who delivered another masterclass in hitting, slicing, throwing, swinging and short-arm hitting up to 129 (60b; 10×6, 7×4) to help the Titans at 233/3. on a warm Friday afternoon. This was his second consecutive ton here and third in the last four games.
After a quiet opening position under Wriddhiman Saha, in which the first five overs produced 38 runs, Gill was stuck with Chris Jordan, who had a normal day on the ball. Gill was dropped by Tim David at half while hitting 30 in the final part of the Powerplay and that was all the luck he needed.
Gill crushed MI’s biggest wicket-taker Piyush Chawla straight over his head for a six, before bowling left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya over square leg for another high as the Titans ran to 91 in 10 overs.
In the eleventh, MI bowling sensation this season, Akash Madhwal, was hit by an impressive three over-the-limit sixes from the leg side. Chawla was then flattened for 16 in the next over and for a moment it looked as if Gill was batting from both ends.
After reaching her hundredth on a single off a delivery by Cameron Green, Gill celebrated by leaping into the air, arms raised, before curtsying in her usual style. He hit Green for two more sixes and hit three more boundaries before holeouting to midwicket off Madhwal’s bowling.
If MI had any chance of hunting down the grand total, they needed Captain Rohit Sharma or ishan kishan to play a one hit blinder.
With Kishan injured and impact player Nehal Wadhera sacked for 4 (3b; 1v4) and Sharma starting early for 8 (7b; 1v4), the IM middle order of Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav and Cameron Green had to go for it. .
Varma broke some superb boundaries in his 43 (14b; 5×4, 6×3) before a special delivery from an Afghan. Rashid Khan castled him
Green and Yadav added 52 runs in quick time, but impact player Josh Little heralded his arrival of international duty by dropping Green for 30 (20b; 2×4, 2×6). Although Yadav hit a half-century well, he couldn’t match Gill’s six hits.
