With their eighth win of the season, table-toppers Titans consolidated their top position in the standings as they now have 16 points from 11 matches, three more than second-placed Chennai Super Kings (13 from 11 matches). LSG suffered their fifth loss but finished third on the points table with 11 points from 11 matches.
As it happened: Gujarat Titans vs Lucknow Super Giants
Firstly, the Titans rode on a stellar batting performance from their openers to post a mammoth 227 for two Shubman Gill (94 not out) and Wriddhiman Saha (81) as the duo added 142 runs to lay the foundation for a big total.
After this, the Titans bowlers registered a big win by scoring LSG 171 for 7 in 20 overs.
Chasing 228, LSG made their way to a robust 102 for one at the halfway mark but eventually the wheels came off, with GT tying up their batsmen with tight overs.
Despite a brilliant 70 from Quinton de Kock in their first game this season and a blistering 48 from Kyle Mayers at the top, the LSG fell against a mountainous chase to win the middle-order contest.
LSG fell 50 runs short of the target in just four overs, with both Mayer and de Kock finding the pace.
While Mayers started with three consecutive fours off Hardik Pandya in the second over, de Kock hit two fours in the third over off Mohammed Shami and Mayers hit a six and a four to score 19 runs.
Mayer was also serious on Rashid Khan in the fifth, hitting a six and a four to collect 14 runs as LSG reached 72 for no loss after the powerplay.
LSG captain Krunal Pandya walks up to congratulate GT captain Hardik Pandya on his win. (AP Photo)
However, a brilliant catch by Rashid in the ninth over broke LSG’s early stand on 88.
The Afghan player covered a distance of 26 meters from deep square leg and dived to his right to catch Mohit Sharma’s 48 off 32 balls (7x4s, 2x6s) while dismissing Mayer for 48. .
But de Kock continued to flourish, flicking Hardik emphatically over midwicket for a six to take the LSG to 102 at the halfway mark.
The horror of Deepak Hooda (11) continued in this IPL, reaching double figures for only the third time in 10 innings, but hit a full toss straight to deep midwicket off Shami.
LSG failed to hit a single boundary in overs 11-14 as Gujarat seized control.
In the 15th over, Mohit caught Marcus Stoinis (4) at short third man.
The LSG went ahead when Rashid, hitting three sixes and seven fours, cleaned up de Kock for 70 off 41 balls, while Nicholas Pooran (3) fell to Noor Ahmed.
Earlier, Gill’s unbeaten 94 and Saha’s ferocious 81 powered Gujarat Titans to 227 for two – their fourth-highest score this season.
Saha and Gill added 142 runs in just 12.1 overs for the first wicket to set a franchise record for the highest partnership for any wicket as LSG had no respite despite deploying eight bowlers into the attack.
It was the second best stand for any team and for any wicket in this IPL, while for Gujarat Titans, it was their highest ever score in the IPL since their debut last season.
Saha hit a total of four sixes and 10 fours in 43 balls, while Gill hit seven sixes and two fours in his 51-ball innings to complete his maiden IPL century.
Gujarat Titans also improved on their overall record of scoring the most runs in the Powerplay.
After scoring 65 in the season opener against Chennai Super Kings here, the Saha-Gill pair added 78 runs in the first six overs at 13 runs per over.
Saha made quick moves to put pressure on the visiting bowlers, hitting Mohsin Khan for two fours and Avesh Khan for a six and a four in the first two overs of the innings.
The wicketkeeper-batsman from Gujarat continued his assault on Mohsin in the left-hander’s second over, hitting four sixes and four fours to take the defending champions past the 50-run mark inside four overs.
Gill, who had so far been steady at the other end, hit Krunal Pandya for a six over long-on and in the last over of the powerplay, Saha brought up his half-century in just 20 balls with a six off Yash Thakur.
Saha and Gill’s century partnership came to an end in the ninth over itself after the latter had Ravi Bishnoi inside out for cover for six overs.
Saha looked set for his second IPL hundred – his first came nine years ago in IPL 2014 – but a sharp catch at deep midwicket by substitute Prerak Mankad off Avesh brought an end to his onslaught.
GT skipper Hardik Pandya hit two fours and a six to score 15 runs off 25 balls. David Miller hit two fours and a six to score an unbeaten 21 off 12 balls.
(With inputs from PTI)