Samson, Hetmyer fire as Royals jump to top of the table

The Rajasthan Royals stormed to their fourth win in five matches and the top of the table in IPL 2023 with their nail-biting victory over the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Sunday night. Chasing 179, the Royals looked dead in the water at 66 for 4, but electric half-centuries from Sanju Samson and Shimron Hetmyer took Rajasthan over the line with four balls to spare in the rematch of last season’s grand finale.

Having been sent into bat by Sanju Samson, Gujarat got off to a poor start with the bat as Wriddhiman Saha and Sai Sudarshan departed inside the powerplay. The wicket-keeper skied one against Trent Boult and was caught in comedic fashion by the Kiwi pacer after three Rajasthan players collided while attempting to take the catch. Sudarshan, meanwhile, was run-out for a 19-ball 20, leaving the Royals in a tricky situation at 30 for 2.

Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya immediately launched a counter-attack to rebuild the Gujarat innings after the early two wickets. The pair went after the Royals spinners, with Pandya creaming Zampa for a four and a six and also combining to take 27 runs from Ravichandran Ashwin’s opening two overs. The skipper brought up the half-century partnership with a four off Trent Boult but was undone by a tossed-up delivery from Chahal on 28.

Gujarat slowed down massively after Pandya’s dismissal, adding just 30 runs from the next 31 deliveries, but Abhinav Manohar and David Miller combined to take them to a par score at the death. The South African finished with 46 from 30 deliveries, while Manohar cleared the ropes on three occasions to help the Titans score 52 runs in the last 24 deliveries.

Chasing 178, Rajasthan were rocked early as both openers departed with just four runs on the board. The Royals managed just 26 runs in the powerplay and were put under further pressure by Rashid Khan later in the innings, with the leg-spinner dismissing impact substitute Devdutt Padikkal and Riyan Parag in successive overs.

Rashid’s double strike left the Royals in a world of trouble at 66 for 4, but Sanju Samson and Shimron Hetmyer rescued Rajasthan with a stunning rebuttal. Samson smashed Rashid for three consecutive sixes in his third over and even belted Noor Ahmad for a four and a six. The 18-year-old Afghanistan prodigy did have Samson caught at long off with 64 still required off 30, but Shimron Hetmyer took centre stage at the death to script an incredible victory for Rajasthan.

The West Indian launched two sixes in a 20-run 16th over from Alzarri Joseph and even took on Rashid Khan to put the Royals on course for victory. Hetmyer received able support from Dhruv Jurel and Ravichandran Ashwin, who struck some timely blows at the death, and eventually sealed the win with a six off Noor Ahmad to take Rajasthan to the top of the table.