Siraj, Buttler hand Gujarat second straight win with an eight-wicket thrashing of RCB

England’s Jos Buttler hammered an unbeaten 73 to lead Gujarat Titans to a thumping eight-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday.

Chasing 170 for victory, Gujarat depended on a 75-run second wicket stand between Buttler and opener Sai Sudharsan, who hit 49, to achieve the target with 13 balls to spare in Bengaluru.

Pace bowler Mohammed Siraj set up Gujarat’s second successive victory with figures of 3-19 from his four overs to help restrict Bengaluru to 169-8.

“It was emotional because I played for seven years here (for RCB). There was some nervousness and some emotion, but the moment I got the ball in my hand, it was full-on (intensity). That I am here (ready for the contest through my celebration), and I am a Cristiano Ronaldo fan as well.”

“As a bowler, I want to always have belief - that is an important thing. If that is not there, you panic (when you get hit). I have a belief that I can do well, irrespective of wherever I am playing, and that is my mindset,” said Siraj

It was Bengaluru’s first defeat of the season after two wins as home fans left the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium disappointed.

Siraj, who played seven seasons in the red of Bengaluru, was named player of the match against his former franchise.

Buttler also shined after his performance with the bat more than made up for his missed chances with the gloves, including when he dropped Phil Salt in the first over off Siraj.

“I don’t know, pretty embarrassed,” Buttler said of his spill behind the stumps.

“We know Salt is a dangerous player. I barely got a glove on it and it hit me in the chest, so was determined to score some runs. As a team, we fielded poorly.”

Gujarat began their reply cautiously against a disciplined bowling attack, and seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed skipper Shubman Gill for 14 in the fifth over. The left-handed Sudharsan hit regular boundaries, and along with Buttler, put on a quickfire stand to get the Titans’ chase back on track.

Australia pace bowler Josh Hazlewood denied Sudharsan his fifty but Buttler kept calm, and partnered by impact substitute Sherfane Rutherford (30), steered the team to victory in an unbeaten stand of 63.

Buttler never allowed the pressure to mount on the visitors as he hit five fours and six sixes, including a reverse ramp that went behind the wicketkeeper in his 39-ball knock.

West Indies left-hander Rutherford hit the winning six to cap off a dominant show in their third match of the season.

Bengaluru were invited to bat first but lost regular wickets and, despite England batter Liam Livingstone’s top-score of 54, fell short.

Star batsman Virat Kohli was the first to go when left-arm quick Arshad Khan got the opener caught at long leg for seven.

Siraj soon took charge and bowled Devdutt Padikkal and then Salt, who fell for 14 one ball after he hit the bowler for a six.

Veteran Indian seamer Ishant Sharma dismissed Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar, causing the batting team to slip to 42-4 in 6.2 overs.

“After three wickets, the way Jitesh (Sharma), Liam and Tim (David) (batted) was amazing to see and the positive from this match,” said Patidar.

“We are very confident about our batting unit -- the way they are showing intent, that is a positive sign.”

Wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh took on the attack in his 21-ball 33 with a flurry of boundaries, including one six, and put on 52 runs with Livingstone.

Left-arm spinner Sai Kishore sent back Jitesh and got Krunal Pandya caught and bowled to rein in Bengaluru.

But Livingstone stood firm and kept up the charge with five sixes — all off Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan.

Livingstone survived reprieves, including when Rahul Tewatia dropped him on nine in the deep and then Buttler missed a stumping off Rashid.

He finally fell to Siraj before David boosted the total with a late blitz as he smashed 32 off 18 balls, but the effort was not enough.

Agencies