Punjab Kings defeated table toppers Gujarat Titans by 8 wickets in the 48th match of the ongoing season of Indian Premier League. These 2 points were crucial for Punjab Kings as it would keep them alive in race of playoffs.
While chasing the target of 144, Punjab Kings too didn’t get a good start. Jonny Bairstow who was promoted as opener today could manage to score only 1 run. Shikhar Dhawan and Rajapaksa formed a 87 runs partnership to take Punjab to a safer position.
Rajapaksa played an impactful knock of 40 runs in 28 balls. While Shikhar Dhawan scored 62 runs in 53 balls which helped Punjab chase down the target successfully in the end. Shikhar Dhawan has been in amazing form in IPL since 2019. Fans praised Dhawan for his consistency over the years in the IPL.
In the end Livingstone displayed his amazing six hitting abilities. He hit Shami for– 6, 6, 6, 4, 2, 4 in the 16th over of the match. Livingstone played a fiery knock of 30 runs in 10 balls and helped PBKS win with 24 balls remaining. He also hit a 117m monstrous six which set the internet on fire.
Here are some of top twitter reactions from the match :
https://twitter.com/SingbalSanket/status/1521539188583464963?s=20&t=BvlqsyE7inVo_rhFi7YjTw
Shikhar Dhawan has to be among the most underappreciated Indian cricketers. #IPL2022 https://t.co/VpnfQ7mptl
— Mohit Shah (@mohit_shah17) May 3, 2022
https://twitter.com/yuvraj2511/status/1521532289867415553?s=20&t=BvlqsyE7inVo_rhFi7YjTw
Shikhar Dhawan always got overshadowed because of Virat and Rohit ☹️.
Most underrated Batsman in last 10 years.
— Cricket🏏 Lover (@CricCrazyV) May 3, 2022
117m six
Livingstone himself shocked
Shami shocked
Mayank shocked
Nehra ji shocked 😳😳🥵🔥— Shivani (@meme_ki_diwani) May 3, 2022
Livingstone has reached that level where he has people putting the TV on even when the equation is 20 needed 30. Must watch SUPERSTAR
— Dave (@CricketDave27) May 3, 2022
Liam Livingstone is low-key having a Dre-Russesque season. Easily amongst the most powerful and aesthetic six hitters I've ever seen.
— Stephen N (@albatrosscric) May 3, 2022
🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
Petition to call sixes over 110m LIVINGSTONE!
How does this man hit them so easily? What a fantastic pick by @PunjabKingsIPL #PBKSvGT— TheRandomCricketPhotosGuy (@RandomCricketP1) May 3, 2022
How effortlessly Liam Livingstone smack sixes. Unreal power hitting ffs.
— Shivani Shukla (@iShivani_Shukla) May 3, 2022
Rabada picks up a 4 wicket haul to restrict Gujarat to 143 runs
Earlier in the match, Hardik Pandya won the toss and decided to take a brave decision to bat first. However, Gujarat didn’t get a good start and lost Shubman Gill early. Sai Sudharsan anchored the innings and took Gujarat to a total of 143 runs. Rabada was the star for Punjab in bowling. He picked up 4 crucial wickets.
GT captain Hardik Pandya in the post match presentation said ” I backed ourselves with the bat, batting first wasn’t a wrong call, we needed to come out of our comfort zone (which was chasing targets). We have chased well in this tournament, if required, we had to know how to set targets. This is part of a learning curve, but this is all about learning to come out of our own comfort zone”
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