LSG vs GT: Gujarat Titans held Lucknow Super Giants in the 30th match of IPL 2023 as fast bowlers Mohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami and spinner Noor Ahmad starred in a low-scoring thriller at the Ekana Cricket Stadium. Defending a score of 135, GT restricted the home side LSG to 128 in 20 overs as KL Rahul's fifty went in vain. Notably, LSG was once bossing the contest with Rahul and Mayers hitting the ball sweet.
The game was very much in LSG's favour till the 15th over when Krunal Pandya and KL Rahul were in the middle with less than run-a-ball required and 9 wickets in hand. But once, Noor Ahmad got Krunal, it started going out of LSG's hands. Mohit Sharma, Shami and Ahmad then pulled things further back as LSG kept losing control from the game. They gave only 11 runs in the 18th and 19th over to bring the equation to 12 needed off 6 but Rahul was at the crease. However, Mohit Sharma bowled a brilliant final over and got Rahul caught out and then Marcus Stoinis to help GT win by 7 runs. For his fabulous final 2 overs, Mohit Sharma was named as Player of the match.
Earlier, LSG made a flying start as Rahul and Mayers sent the GT bowlers to the cleaners. Rahul and Mayers collected 53 in the powerplay without losing a wicket. While Mayers fell after providing a strong start, Rahul played the anchor role. He hit a 38-ball fifty and set the platform for the win. However, with the surface playing slow, LSG was pushed on the back foot. For GT, Mohit and Noor picked 2 wickets each, while Rashid got one.
Batting first, GT scored 135 on back of Hardik Pandya's 66 from 50 balls. Like Rahul, Pandya also anchored the innings. He hit a 44-ball fifty but launched an attack in the final few overs to finish at a good strike rate. For LSG, Krunal and Stoinis picked 2 wickets each and Naveen and Amit Mishra picked one each.
