Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], April 19 (ANI): Following his match-winning knock against Delhi Capitals (DC), Gujarat Titans (GT) wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler, who missed out on a century, said that he told Rahul Tewatia not to worry about his milestone and finish the match.
Buttler was once again the hero for GT this season, scoring his third fifty in seven matches as his explosive century stand with Sherfane Rutherford guided GT to their fifth win of the season, beating DC by seven wickets at Ahmedabad on Saturday.
Speaking after the match in the post-match presentation, Buttler said, “Really pleased with the two points. It was a beautiful wicket to bat on; we just wanted to try and take it deep and pick our moments to attack. We have built some nice partnerships along the way. I told Rahul not to worry about my score; we have to win. Credit to him, he has done that over the last few years, where he can find the fence from ball one.”
He was also all praises for his batting partner, Rutherford, lauding his “six-hitting out of nowhere”.
“His sixes off Mohit changed the game and the momentum,” he added.
On facing cramps during his knock, Buttler said, “It is hot; I am surprised how much fluid you need and how draining it is. Cramping up and stuff. Part of the game is that you have got to be fit and perform under pressure and heat. (On his diving catch) I have performed poorly in the first six games; I was determined to try and do better. Always nice when you manage to hang on to one like that.”
In the tournament so far, Buttler has made 315 runs in seven innings at an average of 63.00 and a strike rate of 164.06, with three half-centuries. His best score is 97*.
GT won the toss and elected to bowl first. A quickfire start from Karun Nair (31 in 18 balls, with two fours and two sixes) and KL Rahul (28 in 14 balls, with four boundaries and a six), a half-century stand between Axar Patel (39 in 32 balls, with a four and two sixes) and Tristan Stubbs (with two fours and a six) and fine finishing by Ashutosh Sharma (37 in 19 balls, with two fours and three sixes) took DC to 203/8 in 20 overs.
Prasidh Krishna (4/41) was the top bowler for GT, while Mohammed Siraj, Arshad Khan, Ishant Sharma, and Sai Kishore got a wicket each.
During the run-chase, GT lost skipper Shubman Gill early, however, Jos Buttler (97* in 54 balls, with 11 fours and four sixes) and his partnerships with Sai Sudharsan (36 in 21 balls, with five fours and a six) and Sherfane Rutherford (43 in 34 balls, with a four and three sixes) took GT to a seven-wicket win with four balls left.
Buttler secured the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his knock.
With their fifth win in seven matches, GT have climbed to the top of the points table, displacing DC to the second spot, who suffered their second loss. (ANI)
