IPL 2022: Bowlers, Saha shine to give Gujarat a comfortable seven-wicket win over Chennai

Gujarat Titans' bowlers put up a fine all-round show to choke Chennai Super Kings, especially by not conceding a boundary in the death overs, before Wriddhiman Saha starred with an unbeaten 67 to complete a comfortable seven-wicket win in match 62 of IPL 2022 at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.

After Gujarat restricted Chennai to a below-par 133/5 despite a 49-ball 53 from Ruturaj Gaikwad, Saha carried his bat through the innings to help them chase down the total with five balls to spare. The result also means that Gujarat have confirmed their spot in the top two of the points table, which means they will get to play in Qualifier 1 at Kolkata on May 24.

Saha got Gujarat off to a brisk start in pursuit of 134, taking three boundaries off Mukesh Choudhary in the opening over, two of them coming through an inner edge past stumps and top-edge over the keeper. In Choudhary's next over, Saha was dropped on 21 by Gaikwad at point amidst the right-hander collecting two boundaries.

From there onwards, it was no looking back for Saha, pulling Simarjeet Singh over deep mid-wicket for six in the fifth over followed by thumping one over the bowler's head for a boundary. Saha's fast and furious start allowed Shubman Gill to take his time and bring out the pull as well as sweep to take boundaries off Mitchell Santner.

But Matheesha Pathirana, the pacer with an uncanny resemblance to countryman Lasith Malinga's sling-arm bowling action, bagged his maiden IPL wicket by trapping Gill lbw with a full, pacy delivery which hit him low on the pad as the right-hander attempted to flick. Gill reviewed but was unable to overturn the decision, ending the 59-run opening partnership.