AHMEDABAD, MAY 16
Shubman Gill's first Indian Premier League century led Gujarat Titans to a 34-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday.
Defending champion Gujarat confirmed a playoff spot and was assured of a top-two finish after the regular season. Top two offers a shorter route to the final. Meanwhile, Hyderabad was knocked out of the playoffs race.
Seven teams, separated by three points, were vying for three playoff berths.
Gill's 101 runs off 58 balls spearheaded Gujarat to 188-9. Hyderabad could muster only 154-9 as Gujarat fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Mohit Sharma shared eight wickets.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar earned a second five-wicket haul in his IPL career, but his 5-30 wasn't enough to rescue the Sunrisers.
Kumar started in fine fashion by dismissing Wriddhiman Saha in the first over. Gill arrived and stayed until the last over. He Sai Sudharsan, back in the side after a long gap, combined for 147 off 84 balls.
Gill, coming off an unbeaten 94 against Lucknow Super Giants two games ago, reached 50 off 22 balls with nine fours.
Sudharsan scored 47 off 36, falling to Marco Jansen in the 15th over. No other Gujarat batsman reached double digits as Gill anchored one end.
Gill scored 51 off the next 36 balls faced, hitting another four fours and a six as he rallied Gujarat to a par score.
Kumar returned to claim three wickets in the final over. Gill was out off the first ball, Rashid Khan for a duck off the next, and Noor Ahmad run out off the third ball. Kumar missed the hat trick but dismissed Shami for a four-wicket over.
In reply, Hyderabad was down to 12-3 in 2.1 overs. Shami tore through the top order, including skipper Aiden Markram for 10, and the Sharma the tail.
Heinrich Klaasen delayed the inevitable with his second half-century of the season, a 44-ball 64.
But Shami finished with 4-20, including Klaasen, and Sharma got 3-28.
