An early end to the day's proceedings, as Rashid, Noor and Pandya took GT to victory with plenty to spare. Although it was a small chase just a few days back too, they had made it look difficult then; but today they romped home in the opposition's den. And if ever there was any consolation for RR, it is that their NRR is still among the better ones among all sides despite the thrashing. That's it from us for today, as the double-header weekends await. Goodnight and goodbye!
SteveO: "But for the DC slip-up, GT would be on 16 with a clear lead"
Rashid Khan is the Player of the Match: "Nothing different, it's about making sure you don't give the signal to and make it easy for the batsman... It has taken a little bit of time to make it perfect. It's just the line and length for me. I just keep it simple; it was a bad day for me [in the last game]. I bowled a few bad deliveries which were punished. I just went back, and talked with the video analyst. I pitched it a little bit fuller. We (Noor and I) speak Pashtun, and that makes it easier. He has been working and asking questions, and that's the reason for his success. I'm receiving messages and videos of bowlers and youngsters who are so good. Mujeeb, Zahir and Qais haven't got the opportunity to play in this league"
Hardik Pandya on GT's big win: "I let Rashid handle that business (of dealing with the spinners) with Noor. They speak the same language, and nobody is better than Rashid. I think it's a very standard field when they are bowling. They are very confident... I have always found Wriddhi as one of the best keepers I have played it. The way he adds value and does the job for us is tremendous. I made some bad judgments and errors in the last game. Today my job was half done by the time Shubman got out. I got a lot of time to think after the last game."
Time for the presentations
Mustafa Moudi: "Hardik thinking about NRR or being NRR himself?? I mean Nightmare for Rajasthan Royals!!" --- Fun fact possibly!?
Sreekanth Rache: "Buttler in last six games - 8, 18, 27, 0, 40, 0"
Wriddhiman Saha on the GT win: "We have been continuing with the benchmark we set last year. Not just one, but all the bowlers are contributing, which is why the Purple Cap has been moving around! My role is to cash on in the powerplay. A few shots gave me the confidence. The later I try and move to Rashid and Noor [as keeper], the more it helps me to make up even if I can't read the googly."
Sanju Samson after the loss: "Tough night today. We did have a very good powerplay to start with. With 120 to defend, that was a bit too much to ask for. They were bowling really good lines and lengths... they kept on taking crucial wickets in the middle overs. You can't go too in; we have a game in one more night. We have been playing some good cricket. But we have to pull our socks up. We are really hungry to win in the coming week."
Shankar: "That was so anticlimactic. Finishing with singles? Seriously, disappointed with GT" --- How unpredictable and boring it can suddenly get...
10.25pm RR's fourth loss in their last five matches. And GT's hammering means they consolidate their No. 1 position in the points table; and with this margin, their NRR is also comfortably the best among all the top-four sides who have played ten matches each. RR will rue slipping from 47 for 1 in five overs, even as Rashid and Noor spun a web around their opponents to combine for 5 for 39 across seven overs. Hang around for the presentation formalities.
One more...
Six to finish?!
Slip again
Yaswanth: "Pandya's last knock is haunting him. That's how you accept your fault and overcome it immediately. Brutal hitting this from Pandya" --- It's about the NRR too today
END OF OVER:13 | 8 Runs | GT: 114/1 (5 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 8.76, RRR: 0.71)
- Wriddhiman Saha38 (31b)
- Hardik Pandya37 (13b)
- Ravichandran Ashwin1-0-8-0
- Yuzvendra Chahal3-0-17-1
GT one hit away