IPL: Sai Sudharsan leads Gujarat Titans to big win over Rajasthan Royals

Sudharsan struck 82 from just 53 balls whole further cameos from  Jos Buttler (36) and Shahrukh Khan (36) propelled Gujarat to a total of 217-6 in 20 overs.

The bowlers then went to work and restricted the Royals to 159 all out in 19.2 overs despite a valiant 52 off 32 deliveries from West Indian Shimron Hetmyer.

Sudharsan changed gears with a six and two fours off Tushar Deshpande in the fifth over as Gujarat ended the powerplay at 56-1.

Buttler also joined the party with a flurry of boundaries against his former team while Sudharsan brought up his third fifty of the season off 32 deliveries, before the 80-run stand ended after a successful review by spinner Maheesh Theekshana.

While Sudharsan kept going, Shahrukh Khan took over from Buttler with a power-packed 36(20) and GT rocketed to 163/3 after 16 overs.

54 runs came off just the last four overs, led by Sudharsan's highly impressive innings and useful lower-order knocks from Rahul Tewatia (24 off 12) and Rashid Khan (12 off 4).

The Royals were 12-2 in the run-chase but a powerful counter-punch from captain Sanju Samson and vice-captain Riyan Parag followed as the Royals forward to 557-2 after the powerplay.

However, they lost a couple of quick wickets at the wrong time with Parag (26 off 14) and Dhruv Jurel (5) walking back and RR were 85-4 at the 10-over mark.

Another flourishing partnership, between Samson and Shimron Hetmyer, ended with Samson (41 off 28) skewing one to short third-man off Prasidh Krishna before Rashid Khan bagged a second wicket to leave RR at 127-6, needing 91 from six overs, and they never recovered.

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