Hardik finds his mojo, leads Titans’ charge against Royals

Abhinav plays perfect foil to the captain while Miller provides the final flourish; chasing a total of 192, Buttler blitz the lone bright spot for the Rajasthan side

Hardik Pandya led from the front with a brilliant unbeaten 87 (52b, 8x4, 4x6) to set up a comprehensive 37-run win for Gujarat Titans over Rajasthan Royals at the D.Y. Patil Stadium here on Thursday.

His knock helped Titans post 192 for four before the bowling attack, led by pacer Lockie Ferguson (3/23), did the job of defending the total despite Jos Buttler’s heroics in the PowerPlay.

It could have been a different story for Royals whose chase started sensationally when Buttler laid the platform with a brutal onslaught, scoring 54 off just 24 balls (8x4, 3x6).

The opener slammed three boundaries in the first over off Mohammed Shami before launching into debutant left-arm pacer Yash Dayal.

The youngster felt the brunt of Buttler’s hitting, being driven through covers, pulled over the leg-side and scooped over fine-leg.

The Englishman took Dayal for five boundaries and two sixes over two overs and got to his half-century with a scoop six off Ferguson over fine-leg. However, the Kiwi bowler had the last laugh as he castled Buttler with a brilliant slow yorker the very next ball at the end of the sixth over.

After that, Royals struggled to find any momentum, losing wickets regularly, it was virtually over for the former champion once Shimron Hetmyer’s cameo of 29 ended.