GT VS RR MATCH 23

Right then, that is it from another exciting game where Rajasthan got the better of Gujarat, but only by just. The action in the Indian T20 League continues on 17th April, Monday where we have got a huge match. It is the Southern Derby as Bangalore take on Chennai in a cracking encounter. The first ball will be bowled at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT), but as you know, you can always join us early for the build-up. Until then, goodbye and cheers!

Shimron Hetmyer is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his match-winning knock. He says that he is at a loss for words and counts this as a kind of revenge after losing against Gujarat three times in the last season. Adds that he has trained a lot and is happy that it paid off here. Tells that he was happy to see a spinner in the last over and he was trying to think ahead of the bowler which worked and he is delighted with the win.

Sanju Samson, the victorious skipper for Rajasthan says that when you play quality opponents on grounds like this, the feeling is good and is glad to get the win here. Adds that it is very important to rotate the bowlers and after the Powerplay they needed to respect the quality of the opponent but the bowlers did well to restrict them to 177. Mentions that the start they had with the bat was due to the quality of the opposition and they needed to respect that. Shares that Adam Zampa was brought in as an additional spinner and he has a good record against David Miller as well. On Shimron Hetmyer, Samson replies that Hetmyer likes the pressure situation and does well under pressure as well.

Presentation Time...

Devdutt Padikkal is down for a chat. He says that it got a little tense but they believed that the batters in the middle could finish it off. Adds that they had to go for it at some point and needed to get a boundary away here and there. Tells that they had the belief when Ravichandran Ashwin walked in that he could finish it off, and they needed to keep the scoreboard ticking. Mentions that they needed to put away the loose deliveries and he is happy that it came off for them. Praises Shimron Hetmyer for his brilliant knock and says that he has been very consistent and they are glad to have an asset like him. Ends by saying that Shimron always leads the celebrations and hopes he keeps winning games for them.

Hardik Pandya, the captain of Gujarat says that the game is never over until it's over and that's the beauty of the game and it was a lesson for them. On bowling Noor Ahmad in the final over, he says that he actually bowled well and can't be harsh on him but the other bowlers didn't execute well. Informs that he is feeling fine and his body is in good shape. Adds that these losses do hurt but it is a long way to go in the tournament. Mentions that they were certainly a bit short with the bat and once he got out, he feels that they couldn't kick on and were 10 runs or so short.

Earlier in the game, Gujarat got to a fighting total thanks to good contributions from Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Abhinav Manohar and David Miller, but they would have liked a few more runs as they struggled in the middle overs. Sandeep Sharma was the pick of the bowlers for Rajasthan for his two wickets and for being economical too. Adam Zampa, Yuzvendra Chahal and Trent Boult chipped in with one each. While chasing it looked like they were on course for defeat, but Sanju Samson and Shimron Hetmyer showed fight and determination and Rajasthan got over the line in the end.

Gujarat will be disappointed with their bowling effort. Mohammad Shami and Hardik Pandya were on fire at the start as they were swinging the ball both ways and the batters had no clue which also resulted in crucial wickets of Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal. They were able to pick up wickets in the middle overs too but were also expensive which ultimately cost them. Hardik Pandya took a big call to get in Noor Ahmad as the Impact Player, and he conceded a lot of runs before getting rid of Sanju Samson to make things interesting. He was given the responsibility of the last over too, but it was too much to do for him in the end. Rashid Khan was also good, but that one over where he conceded three sixes to Samson shifted the momentum and other bowlers could not step up as well and they fell to a defeat. Mohammad Shami ended with three wickets while Rashid got a couple and Hardik Pandya and Noor Ahmad chipped in with one each.

Rajasthan got off to a nightmarish start as they lost both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler inside the first three overs with nothing really on the board. Devdutt Padikkal and Sanju Samson then steadied the ship with the former being the aggressor, but he did the mistake of taking on Rashid Khan and lost his wicket and Riyan Parag followed him in the same way. However, this made Samson change his gears and he took the charge and also hit Rashid for three sixes in a row to change the momentum. Shimron Hetmyer also supported him well, but when Samson got dismissed on 60, he went full attacking and Dhruv Jurel also hit a few crucial blows in the end. As things were looking a bit bleak, Ravichandran Ashwin came in and scored 10 runs in just three balls to get them closer to the target. In the end, Shimron Hetmyer remained unbeaten on 56 off 26 balls and confirmed the victory.

What a win for Rajasthan! Shimron Hetmyer keeps his calm in the end and gets them over the line with four balls to spare. They go top of the table too with that win while Gujarat will feel like they let this one get away from them considering the start that they got with the ball.

SIX! BANG! Shimron Hetmyer finishes things off in style! Just a tad shorter and on middle and leg. Hetmyer goes on the back foot and muscles it flat and over the wide long on fence for a maximum. Rajasthan have certainly pulled off a heist here. RAJASTHAN WIN BY THREE WICKETS!

FIFTY for Shimron Hetmyer and he will be itching to get the winning runs here. This is short and wide outside off, Hetmyer rocks back and slaps it in front of point for a couple of runs. The throw from the deep is at the keeper's end but is a bit wide and the batters make it through with ease.

Noor Ahmad (2-0-19-1) to bowl the last over. This is a huge call from Hardik Pandya to give the ball to the debutant.

Ends with a dot and now 7 runs are needed off 6 balls! Goes full and quick, angling into the legs. Trent Boult backs away and looks to heave it across the line but is well beaten.

Trent Boult comes out to the middle now.

OUT! CAUGHT! Is there another twist in the tale here? Surely not, right? Mohammad Shami serves a slower delivery outside off and bowls it full as well. Ravichandran Ashwin stays back and gets caught on the crease as well. Ashwin looks to lift it over the cover region but ends up chipping it to point where Rahul Tewatia takes a simple catch.

SIX! BANG! That surely is the telling blow from Ravichandran Ashwin. Short again and over middle, Ashwin with a good trigger movement to get deep in his crease and he muscles it well in front of the mid-wicket fence for a biggie. 7 needed now off 8 balls.