Punjab Kings advanced to fifth place in the standings with their second victory of the 2024 Indian Premier League.
In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Punjab Kings (PBKS) defeated Gujarat Titans (GT) in a thrilling match. The Titans were the clear favourites to win, but the Kings pulled off an incredible victory in Ahmedabad thanks to a sudden Shashank Singh storm.
Gujarat Titans (GT) were asked to bat first after losing the toss, but they were dealt a blow right away when Wriddhiman Saha was removed. But Shubman Gill and Kane Williamson ensured a strong powerplay by keeping the scoreboard ticking over. After making a memorable cameo, Sai Sudharsan left, but the GT captain, who reached his first fifty of the year, stuck with it till the very end.
With yet another outstanding performance, Rahul Tewatia gave PBKS a 200-run target. GT scored rather competitively, and they quickly established a strong lead when they dismissed the opposition captain, Shikhar Dhawan. GT was in control thanks to a masterful stint from Noor Ahmed, but things soon changed around when impact sub Ashutosh Sharma and Shashank Singh produced a knock that would be remembered for a very long time.
Highlight of GT vs. PBKS’s second inning
Punjab Kings: 5.4 overs and 50 runs
GT substituted Mohit Sharma, their impact sub, for Tewatia right immediately. With two boundaries in the opening over, Johnny Bairstow gave PBKS the start they needed, but they lost captain Shikhar Dhawan for just one run. For GT, Umesh Yadav claimed the opening wicket and set a record with 34 wickets against one opponent.
Prabhsimran Singh and Bairstow resisted being put under duress. But when Noor Ahmed entered the field in the last over of the powerplay, the spinner from Afghanistan dismissed the English hitter with the first ball of the match. Prabhsimran struck Noor for a boundary, bringing PBKS closer to the 50-run milestone.
See also: Prabhsimran Singh: An Overview of the Young Batsman for the Punjab Kings
First Strategic Outbreak: 64/3 (7.2 overs) for Punjab Kings
Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmed, the spin duo, applied pressure to the PBKS hitters by attacking from both ends. In the ninth over, when Noor had taken his second wicket in the form of Prabhsimran (35 off 24 balls), the umpire indicated the first strategic break.
Punjab Kings: 11 overs and 100 runs
By the ninth over, PBKS had lost another wicket and were in serious trouble. Shashank Singh, a powerful hitter, had a tall order when he took the pitch. Shashank began his slaughter by hitting Noor for a six. In the eleventh over, he punished Umesh Yadav by hitting three boundaries in a row. When the last delivery was made, the scoreboard showed 100/4. After scoring 17 runs in that over, PBKS regained their momentum.
Punjab Kings 150/3 (15.3 overs) at the second strategic timeout
Jitesh Sharma struck back-to-back sixes against Rashid Khan to help PBKS reach 150 in style. To put his team back on track, the Afghan spinner took out the wicketkeeper hitter on the very next ball (15.3), winning the war. It was time for the second strategic pause, and Punjab sent on Ashutosh Sharma, their Impact Sub.
Shashank Singh’s half-century (off 25 balls)
In the 18th over, Shashank achieved his first-ever IPL fifty with a single. His incredible achievement, which introduced PBKS to the game, required just 25 balls!
Punjab Kings – 200/7 (19.5 overs) at the end of the game
Ashutosh Sharma, who scored 31 off 17, had a significant influence by providing Shashank with the much-needed assistance on the opposite end. In the last over, Shashank struck Mohit Sharma for a six to cut the deficit to seven. Shashank needed 16 from nine balls. Ashutosh was removed from the game by Darshan Nalkande on the opening ball, adding a twist to the match.
To get closer to the finish line, Shashank, though, maintained his composure and struck a boundary off the fourth ball. A leg bye on the following ball gave PBKS the advantage they needed, averting a Super Over. With their second victory, Punjab moved up to sixth place in the standings.
See Also: Shashank Singh’s biography. All the information you require about the Punjab Kings star
