Bengaluru, 24 April. How much runs are being scored in the current edition of the Tata Indian Premier League (IPL-19) can be easily gauged from the fact that out of the 34 matches played so far, Friday was the 11th such match in which both the teams scored 200+.

However, the aggressive century effort of Gujarat Titans (GT) opener Sai Sudarshan (100 runs, 58 balls, five sixes, 11 fours) went in vain at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium and the electric half-centuries of Virat Kohli (81 runs, 44 balls, four fours, eight fours) and Devdutt Padikkal (55 runs, 27 balls, six fours, two fours) helped the defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore. Bengaluru (RCB) moved themselves to second place in the points table with an impressive five-wicket win with seven balls to spare.

Gujarati team reached 205 runs due to Sudarshan’s powerful hundred.

Gujarat Titans, who lost the coin toss, batting first scored a strong score of 205 runs for three wickets with the help of Sai Sudarshan’s powerful hundred and his useful partnerships with other batsmen including captain Shubman Gill (32 runs, 24 balls, one six, two fours).

RCB registered a 5 wicket win with 7 balls to spare

In retaliation, RCB team dominated the match with Virat and Padikkal hitting their third half-centuries of the current season. However, ‘Player of the Match’ Kohli could not reach a century. But in the last moments, Krunal Pandya (23 not out, 12 balls, one six, three fours) showed his sharp hand and put the final seal on the victory of RCB, who scored 206 runs for five wickets in 18.5 overs.

RCB’s fifth win in the current season, GT’s fourth defeat.

This was the fifth win in seven matches for the defending champion team, which was playing its last home match of the group stage in the current season and with the help of 10 points, it has moved to second place in the points table after Punjab Kings (11 points). Although Rajasthan Royals also have 10 points from seven matches, but due to weak net run rate they are in third place. At the same time, Gujarat Titans have lagged behind in seventh place with six points after their second consecutive and fourth defeat in seven matches.

Kohli got life in the very first over

Talking about the match, Mohammad Siraj had created a chance against Kohli in the very first over against a difficult target, but Kohli missed the catch from Washington Sundar at midwicket. Kohli’s account was not even opened at that time, but this donation of life proved costly for GT. Siraj (1-25) soon sent Jacob Bethel (14 runs, 10 balls, three fours) back to the pavilion, but Padikkal started the attack as soon as he came and soon Kohli also got into the rhythm.

Virat and Padikkal broke 115 runs in just 59 balls

Kohli was moving towards his half-century, but before him Padikkal also completed his half-century. There was a partnership of 115 runs between the two batsmen for the second wicket in just 59 balls. Rashid Khan (2-49) bowled Padikkal at a total of 141 in the 13th over. While Kohli was 19 runs away from his century, he was bowled in the very next over while trying to pull the ball of Jason Holder (1-35).

score card

However, by then RCB was far ahead in the competition. Rashid and Manav Suthar (1-49) tried to create excitement in the match by removing Jitesh Sharma (10 runs, six balls, one six, one four) and captain Rajat Patidar (eight runs, five balls, one six), but Krunal and Tim David (10 runs not out, nine balls, one six) returned to the pavilion only to give victory to RCB.

Sai Sudarshan becomes the fastest two-thousander in IPL

Earlier, Sai Sudarshan along with Shubman Gill had given a strong start to GT. However, out of the guests’ 57 runs in the powerplay, 46 runs were scored by Sai Sudarshan alone and Gill faced only seven balls, in which he scored nine runs. Sai Sudarshan also completed 2000 runs in IPL in this match and he also became the fastest batsman to score two thousand runs in terms of innings in IPL (47 innings). In this sequence he left behind Chris Gayle (48 innings).

Partnership of 128 runs on 76 balls between Sai and Shubman

In this sequence, there was a partnership of 128 runs in 76 balls between Gill and Sai Sudarshan for the first wicket and the foundation stone of a big score for GT had been laid. However, Sai completed his half-century in 57 balls, which was the slowest century so far this season. However, he also became only the second batsman after Chris Gayle (2011-13) to score centuries in three consecutive IPL seasons.

Sudarshan was victimized by Josh Hazlewood in the 16th over and in the 18th over, Bhuvneshwar Kumar also returned Jos Buttler (25 runs, 16 balls, one six, two fours). After Sudarshan’s dismissal, the Gujarati team could score only 17 runs in the next three overs.

However, before bowling the last over, Rasikh Salam suffered a muscle strain and had to leave the field. After bowling two balls and hitting a six, Krunal also felt muscle problems, due to which the game was stopped once again. At present, Jason Holder (23 not out, 10 balls, two sixes, one four) further hit one four and one more six in this over and Washington Sundar (19 not out, 12 balls, one six, one four) took his team beyond 200.

Saturday’s matches: Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings (Delhi, 3.30 PM). Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (Jaipur, 7.30 PM).