Jason Holder continued his superb start to the Indian Premier League (IPL), with his three-wicket haul propeling Gujarat Titans to a comprehensive 77-run victory over Rajasthan Royals here on Saturday and up to second place in the standings.
Led by a destructive opening partnership of 118 in under 11 overs by captain Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan, the Titans compiled a competitive 229 for four in 20 overs after being sent in at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
Gill topscored with 84 off 44 balls, inclusive of nine fours and three sixes, while Sudharsman clobbered 55 from 36 deliveries, hitting six fours and two sixes.
Holder made seven runs before becoming the second of Brijesh Sharma’s two wickets (2-47).
However, he made amends with the ball by polishing off the Royals’ tail to see them bowled out for 152 in 16.3 overs and give the Titans their fourth straight win.
Holder accounted for the last three wickets to fall by dismissing fellow Barbadian Jofra Archer for five, Dasun Shanaka for 16 and Tushar Deshpande for just one to finish with figures of 3-12 in 2.3 overs.
Player-of-the-Match Rashid Khan was the main destroyer though, claiming 4-33 from his four overs.
With the result, Titans moved up 14 points, the same as leaders Sunrisers Hyderabad, who they trail due to an inferior run rate. (CMC)
