LLC 2022: Gujarat Giants defeat Manipal Tigers by two wickets in a low-scoring thriller

The Gujarat Giants have continued their outstanding form with an impressive two-wicket win over the Manipal Tigers in the third match of the Legends League Cricket 2022 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Monday, September 19.

By the virtue of this win, the Gujarat Giants continue to top the points table having won both of their matches so far, whereas the Harbhajan Singh-led Manipal Tigers have a lot of work to do as they have now suffered a second straight defeat in this competition.

Gujarat Giants outclass Manipal Tigers

The Gujarat Giants captain  Virender Sehwag called it right at the toss and elected to bowl first. It was indeed a good move as the Tigers lost their top-order early and were reduced to 22/3 inside the Powerplay before Mohammad Kaif (24) and Ravikant Shukla (32) carried out the rescue act adding 75 runs for the fourth wicket stand. 

However, just when the Manipal Tigers heaved a sigh of relief, they lost the wickets of both their key batters in the middle overs and completely lost the momentum from thereon and in the end skipper Harbhajan Singh's 18 helped them post a respectable score of 120/8.

Ashok Dinda and Tillakratne Dilshan picked up two wickets each while Rayad Emrit and Thisara Perera took one scalp each.

In reply, the Gujarat Giants were in total disarray being reduced to 2/2 having lost key players Sehwag and Dilshan early on before Parthiv Patel departed after scoring a vital 17-ball 34. At one point, the Giants' innings seemed to derail as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals including that of an in-form Kevin O'Brien for 23. 

As Gujarat kept on coming closer to the target, they lost their middle order and the tail was entrusted with the responsibility of getting the job done. In the end Yashpal Singh showed some grit as the Gujarat Giants got past the finish line in the 18th over.