Punjab Kings edge Gujarat Titans in thrilling IPL clash with Shreyas Iyer's blazing knock

Punjab, batting first at the world's largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad, set a daunting total of 243/5, thanks to an explosive 97 not out off just 42 balls by Shreyas Iyer. His blistering knock anchored the team's innings and provided a solid foundation in what would become a high-stakes showdown.

In reply, Gujarat Titans posted a commendable 232/5, spurred by a fiery 74 off 41 balls from opener Sai Sudharsan. Sudharsan, in partnership with Jos Buttler (54 from 31), gave Gujarat a strong start. The match was a six-fest, with both teams hitting 16 maximums, intensifying the excitement on the fourth day of the IPL season.

Iyer, who had been bought by Punjab for a hefty 3.17 million dollars, showed why his price tag was justified. His innings began with a crisp boundary off Kagiso Rabada (1/44), followed by a towering six just three balls later. Alongside Iyer, Priyansh Arya added a fiery 47 from 23 balls before falling to Rashid Khan.

Gujarat's Sai Kishore took center stage during the middle overs, picking up two quick wickets, including the prized scalp of Glenn Maxwell, who fell for a duck. Despite Maxwell's failure, Iyer remained impervious, smashing boundaries with regularity. He reached his fifty off just 27 balls, and a blistering 24-run over against Prasidh Krishna propelled Punjab to a strong total.

Iyer's aggressive approach continued until the final stages, surpassing his previous IPL best score of 96. However, he couldn't get to a century, leaving the final push to Shashank Singh, who hammered 44 runs from 16 balls, allowing Punjab to finish with a flourish. The pair added 81 runs in just 28 balls, ensuring a commanding end to their innings.

Gujarat's chase began with promise as Sudharsan and Shubman Gill (33 from 14) shared an 84-run stand for the second wicket. But as the required run rate soared, the chase began to slip away, despite a valiant effort from Rutherford, who contributed 46 off 28 balls. The turning point came when Sudharsan was dismissed by Arshdeep Singh, and Buttler was sent packing by Jansen just after completing his half-century.

With the game reaching its final moments, Gujarat fell agonizingly short, as Punjab held on to secure the 11-run victory. This thrilling contest highlighted both teams' aggressive batting and the Proteas pace duo's critical impact, ensuring Punjab's hard-earned win.

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