English hard-hitter slams 27-ball 64 to take team to 189-9; Rashid shines for GT
Punjab Kings’ Liam Livingstone celebrates his half-century against Gujarat Titans at the Brabourne Stadium yesterday. Pics/PTI
While most of the Punjab Kings (PBKS) batsmen struggled against Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Brabourne Stadium on Friday, it seemed like a walk in the park for their English batsman Liam Livingstone, who made a 27-ball 64 (7x4, 4x6). Thanks to Livingstone’s fiery innings, Punjab posted an impressive 189-9 in their 20 overs. At the time of going to press, Gujarat Titans were 88-1 after nine overs.
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Agarwal struggles
Put in to bat by Gujarat captain Hardik Pandya, it was an interesting initial contest between Punjab’s India openers—Mayank Agarwal (5) and Shikhar Dhawan (35), and GT’s India speedster Mohammed Shami (1-36).
Rashid Khan is pumped up after claiming Shikhar Dhawan’s wicket
Agarwal’s lofted on-drive off Shami in the first over got him a boundary, but his struggle for the runs in the IPL-15 continued. After scoring 32, one and four in his last three IPL-15 games, the Punjab skipper managed just five on Friday as he perished to a Pandya bouncer. Attempting a pull shot, he instead ended up giving mid-wicket fielder Rashid Khan (3-22) an easy catch.
Milestone for Dhawan
Dhawan meanwhile, became the first Indian to hit 1,000-plus fours in T20 cricket during his 30-ball 35 (4x4). However, it was Livingstone, who made an impact, carrying on from his match-winning 32-ball 60 against Chennai Super Kings at the same ground last Sunday.
He flicked pacer Lockie Ferguson (1-33) for a boundary off the very first ball he faced. A dancing-down-the-track on-drive against debutant Vidarbha pacer Darshan Nalkande, 23, (2-37) was a treat to watch as the ball struck the first floor of Cricket Club of India.
Runs flowed easily off
Livingstone’s bat and Nalkande was at the receiving end. The Englishman scooped the first ball of Nalkande’s second over for a six and dispatched the second with the same shot for four. Nalkande conceded 27 runs off his first two overs. Besides Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (11-ball 23) and Rahul Chahar (22 not out off 14 balls), were the other contributors for Punjab.
Brief scores
PBKS 189-9 (L Livingstone 64, S Dhawan 35, R Chahar 22*; R Khan 3-22, D Nalkande 2-37) v GT (scores incomplete)
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