IPL thriller: Connolly’s 72 seals nervy Punjab Kings win over Gujarat Titans
Punjab Kings secured a thrilling three-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans, largely thanks to Cooper Connolly's unbeaten 72. Despite a mid-innings wobble, Connolly's composed innings, supported by Xavier Bartlett's quickfire 11, guided Punjab home. Gujarat's innings struggled for momentum, with Vijaykumar Vyshak and Yuzvendra Chahal picking up crucial wickets.
NEW CHANDIGARH: There are chases that surge, and then there are those that stutter, pause and somehow still find a way. Punjab Kings’ three-wicket win over Gujarat Titans at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium here, belonged firmly to the latter. At the centre of it all stood Cooper Connolly, unbeaten on 72 off 44 balls (5x4, 5x6), an innings that didn’t so much dominate the night as quietly take control of it.
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There is a certain stillness to his batting, a compactness in movement that makes even the big shots feel measured. The left-hander, who has risen through Australia’s domestic circuit as a composed middle-order presence, played an innings of layers, feeling for the pitch and then expanding just when Punjab needed him to. Early in the chase, the tempo was set by Prabhsimran Singh.
His 37 off 24 balls (1x4, 4x6) was all bustle and intent. Short-arm pulls, crisp drives and a willingness to take on the new ball. Alongside Connolly, he stitched together a 76-run partnership that gave Punjab early momentum.