Watch: Vijay Shankar blasted his way to a phenomenal unbeaten 63 off just 24 deliveries, including three consecutive final-over maximums as Gujarat Titans amassed 204 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders.
With GT 159-4 with two overs to spare, a 200-plus score must have felt miles away – before Shankar’s boundary-hitting spree commenced.
Shankar blasted four fours and five sixes, with Shardul Thakur and Lockie Ferguson’s figures taking a beating in the process – conceding a total of 80 runs from their 7 overs. Shankar went into the last two overs on 22 off 13 balls. He brought up a 21-ball half-century in a stretch of breathtaking acceleration.
In smashing 41 runs in just 11 balls, Shankar hit the fourth most runs in the final two overs an innings. Thakur’s deliveries were back of a length, in the slot and slightly back of a length once more – all sailing over the ropes as Shankar timed to perfection through the on side.
Earlier on in the innings, GT had got off to a strong start, with Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan contributing 39 and 53 respectively, sharing a 67-run partnership.
KKR’s spinners stemmed the flow of runs, with 19-year-old rookie Suyash Sharma bowling the motoring Abhinav Manohar with a brutal wrong-un.
Despite Sunil Narine picking up three wickets for the visitors, no one could stop Vijay Shankar as GT subsequently posted an intimidating target.
