IPL 2022: Gujarat Titans make winning start in battle of debutants

Gujarat Titans began their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 campaign with a 5-wicket victory against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Mohammad Shami starred with the ball and scalped three wickets before the Titans batters made valuable contributions at the death and held their nerves in a tricky run-chase.

The Gujarat Titans had a tricky start in their attempt to chase a target of 159 as they lost two early wickets.

Shubman Gill was dismissed for a duck after the opener was caught by Hooda off Dushmantha Chameera.

The seamer scalped his second wicket by launching the delivery right in the block-hole to dismiss Vijay Shankar. GT skipper – Hardik Pandya got off the mark with a stylish flick towards mid-wicket for four.

Opener Matthew Wade supported the Gujarat Titans skipper’s attacking display with a sweetly timed four as the Titans were 44-2 at the end of the powerplay.

After a quiet 7th over, Pandya clubbed Ravi Bishnoi for a six over long-off. The fifty partnership was up between Pandya and Wade and the Titans were 72-2 at the ten-over mark.

The very next delivery saw the dismissal of the Titans skipper who Manish Pandey caught in the deep off Krunal Pandya, who won the clash of the brothers.

Deepak Hooda came in to bowl the 12th over and removed the well-set Wade after the left-handed batter was deceived by the spinner’s delivery which crashed the stumps.

The momentum was back with the Super Giants after the next three overs produced only 12 runs. Gujarat Titans were 91-4 with Rahul Tewatia and David Miller at the crease.

However, Hooda conceded 22 runs in the next over after both Miller and Tewatia smashed a four and a six each. The next over was no different for LSG as Tewatia continued