The first game featuring the two new teams was an absolute thriller as both of them didn't want to end up on the losing side. It went to the last over as the fans witnessed an absolute cracker of a contest. It was Gujarat that got the better of Lucknow as they managed to chase a tricky target. The blue-eyed boy Rahul Tewatia ignited his magic once again. However, it was Abhinav Manohar Ayush Badoni who won a lot of hearts.
After winning the toss and electing to bowl first, Mohammed Shami was all over Lucknow's batters. He was breathing fire as he managed to pick three wickets in the powerplay overs. KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock and Evin Lewis perished without making an impact.
Joining Shami was Lockie Ferguson as he too was bowling well. A batting collapse meant that the Rahul-led side couldn't take too many risks. While Lucknow were 29-4, Deepak Hooda and the debutant Ayush Badoni took the responsibility to take their team to a respectable total. Both scored their respective half-centuries.
At the end, Lucknow scored 158-6. In reply, Gujarat lost two early wickets in the second innings as well. After which, Gujarat skipper Hardik Pandya and Matthew Wade put on a 57-run partnership before the all-rounder was dismissed by his elder brother in the tenth over. All of sudden, Lucknow's spinners started to get a lot of purchase from the pitch.
Deepak Hooda and Ravi Bishnoi started to bowl tight line and lengths as the Gujarat batters struggled to play the big shots. Krunal Pandya's performance was noteworthy as he only gave 17 runs in his four overs, and picked a wicket. David Miller and Rahul Tewatia then found it hard to get going.
However, they turned the tables as the two batters started to play the big shots after the 15th over. As it was in the V, Miller deposited a few balls in the tree. Tewatia on the other hand did a Tewatia and took the aggressive route as he played some cheeky shots. This included a 17-run over of Bishnoi. Miller was dismissed after scoring a 30 but by then, the damage was already done. In the end, Tewatia and Abhinav Manohar saw their team home with two balls to spare.
Here are some of the Tweets from today's match:
tewatia successfully pulls off a tewatia #GTvsLSG #IPL2022
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) March 28, 2022
With 11 to win in last over, expected Avesh to do better but Abhinav Manohar was too good to say the least. #GTvsLSG
— Mohsin Kamal (@64MohsinKamal) March 28, 2022
Rahuls can never dominate Gujarat. Be it in politics or in cricket. https://t.co/aJAQdb4DbZ
— Shivani Shukla 🏏 (@iShivani_Shukla) March 28, 2022
Dave Miller literally performs all the time but no one rates him for some reason. Maybe coz he doesn't bowl! #IPL2022
— Anirudh (@OffDrive_) March 28, 2022
Killer Miller 🔥
— Mohit. (@mohitsharma13__) March 28, 2022
Hardik Pandya's bowling or his captaincy, I don't know what's going to be more surprising tonight. Best wishes. #IPL
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) March 28, 2022
Did Hardik & Krunal had a deal?
— Jose Puliampatta (@JosePuliampatta) March 28, 2022
The former saying, "Don't worry about the batting mediocrity of your seniors, we will outdo with our own mediocrity & will try to save the izzat of you bro & your team"
WTF, Dushmantha Chameera will go incomplete wrt his quota, then he should have been given his 3rd over already. Poor captaincy
— Udit (@udit_buch) March 28, 2022
KL using spinners at this point with due out there just sums his captaincy up
— Mayank (@ImMayankB) March 28, 2022
Bishnoi could have won the game with that over bowling according to his strength. I know dew is there but at this stage..you gotta deliver man.
— Kaushik (@CricKaushik_) March 28, 2022