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TATA IPL 2024: DC Defeats GT by 4 Runs Despite Sudarshan, Miller Heroics
Despite impressive fifties from B Sai Sudharsan and David Miller, their efforts were in vain as Delhi Capitals narrowly clinched victory against Gujarat Titans by a margin of four runs in an exhilarating match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Rishabh Pant led from the front with an unbeaten 88 off 43 balls, while Axar Patel contributed a solid 66 off 43 deliveries, propelling DC to a formidable total of 224/4. Despite Sudharsan's 65 and Miller's 55, GT fell short in their chase. Nonetheless, Delhi Capitals emerged victorious, securing the much-needed two points in a thrilling encounter characterized by an abundance of runs.
Chasing 225 runs, Shubman Gill faced an early dismissal in his 100th IPL appearance, mistiming a lofted shot to mid-on off Anrich Nortje. Wriddhiman Saha and Sudharsan then capitalized on the power-play, collectively hitting ten boundaries. Notably, they garnered 17 runs off Khaleel Ahmed's bowling in the third over.
Sudarshan had some luck on his side after being dropped on 17 by Axar at mid-on on Rasikh Salam’s bowling, as GT ended the power-play at 67/1. Sudarshan was neat in cutting and glancing Axar Patel for consecutive fours. But Kuldeep Yadav struck as Saha slashed hard and Axar jumped in the nick of time to pluck the catch out of thin air.
Sudarshan completed his fifty in 29 balls but saw GT go from 94/1 to 98/3 as Axar had Azmatullah Omarzai caught by Jake Fraser-McGurk rushing in and diving forward from deep mid-wicket to complete a sensational catch. Sudarshan and Miller would hit a boundary each before the former holed out to long-off against Rasikh.
Rasikh then took out Shahrukh Khan, as Rishabh Pant took a sharp catch after standing up to the stumps, followed by him taking Rahul Tewatia’s catch on Kuldeep’s last ball. With 73 runs needed off 24 balls, Miller feasted on Nortje’s short and full balls by hitting four and three sixes before reaching his fifty in 21 balls with a brace as 24 runs came off the 17th over.
Following Rashid Khan being given a lifeline when Abishek Porel dropped a catch on the first delivery of the 18th over, Miller managed to score a boundary off Mukesh's delivery before getting caught at deep backward square leg, concluding his innings with a 23-ball 55. As the pressure mounted with 37 runs required off 12 balls, Rashid Khan struck a boundary against Rasikh, with Tristan Stubbs preventing a potential six. However, R Sai Kishore reignited hopes for his team by hitting consecutive sixes before being dismissed by the pacer.
As the match entered its final over, the equation stood at 19 runs required. Rashid Khan initiated the over by elegantly guiding Mukesh's delivery through the gap between long-on and mid-wicket for a boundary. Responding to a wide delivery, Rashid swiftly executed a slash shot over extra cover for another boundary. Following two consecutive dot balls, Rashid showcased his power by lofting a six over long-off. With just three runs needed off the last ball, Rashid attempted to make contact with a yorker, but the ball ended up bouncing once to long-off, ultimately securing a tight victory for DC as they maintained their composure.
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