Lucknow’s Shubman Gill cashes in on reprieve

Titans’ Shubman Gill plays a shot against LSG in Pune yesterday

Opener Shubman Gill's second consecutive fifty helped Gujarat Titans to a below-par 144 for 4 after electing to bat in a top-of-the-table clash against Lucknow Super Giants. At the time of going to press, Lucknow were 24-2 after five overs. Deepak Hooda was playing on four and Karan Sharma yet to open his account.

At the MCA Stadium here on Tuesday, Gill, reprieved off the very first ball he faced when Karan Sharma dropped a tough chance at third-man, carried his bat through to score an unbeaten 63 off 49 balls. Gill's knock included seven fours as the opener played the role of an anchor to perfection.

Titans, who looked like struggling for most part of their innings on a pitch that helped pace bowlers get good bounce, managed to score 57 runs off the last six overs. Rahul Tewatia gave the Titans innings some respectability with three fours in the final over, bowled by Jason Holder. Tewatia remained unbeaten on 22 off 16 balls. His partnership with Gill (41 runs off 24 balls) was crucial in Titans getting past the 140-run mark.