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Cooper Connolly (Image: IPL)
Debutant Cooper Connolly announced himself successful style, scoring a superb maiden half-century to usher Punjab Kings to a thrilling three-wicket triumph implicit Gujarat Titans successful their IPL 2026 clash astatine the PCA New International Cricket Stadium successful New Chandigarh connected Tuesday.Chasing 163, Punjab Kings suffered an aboriginal stroke arsenic interaction subordinate Priyansh Arya fell for 7 successful the 2nd implicit to Kagiso Rabada. However, Prabhsimran Singh rapidly shifted momentum with an assertive counterattack, smashing back-to-back sixes disconnected Rabada. Connolly joined the assault, and the duo powered PBKS to 55/1 astatine the extremity of the powerplay. They stitched unneurotic a important 76-run basal for the 2nd wicket, putting the pursuit firmly connected track.
GT Fight Back, Connolly Holds Nerve
Rashid Khan broke the concern successful the 10th over, dismissing Prabhsimran for a quickfire 37. Captain
Shreyas Iyer
kept the momentum going with a mates of sixes but was removed by Prasidh Krishna successful the 13th over. Gujarat Titans past staged a beardown comeback, picking up wickets successful clusters arsenic Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, and Marcus Stoinis departed successful speedy succession.Despite the illness astatine the different end, Connolly held his composure and brought up his maiden IPL 50 successful conscionable 34 balls. The 22-year-old remained unbeaten connected 72 disconnected 44 deliveries, striking 5 fours and 5 sixes, and steered Punjab location alongside
Xavier Bartlett
(11*) with 5 balls to spare.
For Gujarat Titans, Prasidh Krishna was the standout bowler with figures of 3/29, portion Rabada, Rashid Khan, Washington Sundar, and Ashok Sharma picked up a wicket each.Earlier, Punjab Kings produced a disciplined bowling effort to restrict Gujarat Titans to 162/6. Vijaykumar Vyshak starred with the ball, claiming 3 wickets, portion Yuzvendra Chahal chipped successful with two.Gujarat got disconnected to a flying start, with Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan racing to 35/0 successful conscionable 3 overs. However, Marco Jansen provided the archetypal breakthrough by dismissing Sudharsan for 13. Gill past anchored the innings alongside
Jos Buttler
, helping GT scope 54/1 astatine the extremity of the powerplay.Gill, aft an assertive start, slowed down earlier being dismissed for 39 by Chahal successful the 10th over. Glenn Phillips added a speedy 25 but fell to Vyshak, portion Buttler top-scored with 38 earlier being dismissed by Chahal successful the 16th over. Washington Sundar struggled to accelerate, managing 18 runs precocious successful the innings.Vyshak finished with awesome figures of 3/34, portion Chahal’s 2/28 ensured Gujarat Titans were kept successful cheque contempt their beardown start.
Brief Scores:
Gujarat Titans 162/6 (Shubman Gill 39, Jos Buttler 38; Vijaykumar Vyshak 3/34, Yuzvendra Chahal 2/28)Punjab Kings 165/7 (Cooper Connolly 72*, Prabhsimran Singh 37; Prasidh Krishna 3/29)Punjab Kings won by 3 wickets.
