Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Thursday pulled off the highest successful run-chase of IPL 2024, beating Gujarat Titans (GT) by three wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. All-rounder Shashank Singh was the unlikely hero for Punjab, smashing an unbeaten 61 off 29 balls to help his side chase down a target of 200. PBKS were reeling at 70/4 at one stage and it looked that GT were on course for a third straight win at home. However, Shashank and Ashutosh Sharma put on a match-defying stand to see PBKS through in the contest.
As Shashank hit the winning run off Darshan Nalkande on the penultimate delivery, PBKS co-owner and bollywood actress Preity Zinta jumped from her seat, joining the celebrations from the stands.
During the IPL auction last year, there was a confusion regarding Shashank's purchase. It was a case of mistaken identity that PBKS incurred during the acceleratore period with two players having the same name.
After purchasing the right Shashank, PBKS put out a clarification tweet to burst the bubble, and it seems that the players too has responded well after taking Zinta's side home.
Coming to the match, Gill struck the highest individual score of the IPL 2024 - 89* and Rahul Tewatia came at the end to play a short cameo of 23* in a mere 8 delivers to power GT to 199/4 in the first inning.
In reply, Shashank Singh's (61*) blitz and Ashutosh's (31) rattled GT as they chased down the target and clinched a three-wicket victory for the Punjab Kings.
Following the win, the Punjab-based franchise stand in the fifth place of the IPL 2024 standings with four points. On the other hand, Gujarat hold the sixth place with 4 points.
PBKS captain Shikhar Dhawan praised both Ashutosh Sharma and Shashank Singh for building a crucial partnership in the end.
"It was an amazing game, very very close, I'm glad the boys did the job. The plan was to give a good start but I got out unfortunately but we were around 60 runs at the end of the powerplay, we kept building partnerships and Shashank came in and played really well. The way Shashank came in and hit those sixes, it was brilliant, the way he hit the ball, it looked effortless. He started from No. 7 and is now showing his positive mindset. He is playing in the IPL after a long time and he played so well. I will also mention about Ashutosh, he came in and played a good knock under pressure," Dhawan said.
(With ANI Inputs)