Joseph’s Gujarat Titans defeat Mayers’ Super Giants

Kyle Mayers narrowly missed out on his fifth half-century in the Indian Premier League while his team Lucknow Super Giants crashed to a 56- run defeat at the hands of Alzarri Joseph’s Gujarat Titans recently at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

With the Super Giants chasing a massive 228 for victory, Mayers lashed 48 from 32 balls in a stunning 88- run open stand with fellow South African left-hander Quinton de Knock, who top scored with 70 off 41 balls.

Mayers’ and de Knock countered beautifully, the West Indies all-rounder blasted 7 fours and 2 sixes. His South African counterpart striking 7 fours and 3 sixes.

Mayers’ was first to depart, top-edging a slower ball bouncer from seamer Mohit Sharma to fine leg and Super Giants slumped thereafter, with only AYUSH Badoni who made 21 showing any kind of resistance. Former West Indies white-ball captain Nicholas Pooran made only three batting at number five.

West Indies’ Alzarri Joseph during the third Test against England. Associated Press / Ricardo Mazalan, file

The Super Giants suffered a collapse at the back end of the chase, slipping from 130 for two in the 15th over to find themselves restricted to 171 for seven off their 20 allocated overs.

Earlier, Gujarat Titans openers Shuban Gill who made 94 runs not out punched 2 fours and 7 sixes off 51 balls and Wriddhiman Saha who made 81 counted 10 fours and 4 sixes in a 43-ball knock putting on 142 for the first wicket as Titans posted a thoroughly impressive 227 for 2 off their 20 overs.

When the partnership was broken, Gill held the innings together, adding a further 42 for the second wicket with captain Hardik Pandya who made 25 and 43 in an unbroken third wicket partnership with South African David Miller who made 21 not out.

Joseph used as a substitute, sent down a single over, which cost five runs.

Kyle Mayers is the Super Giants leading scorer this season with 359 runs.