The seventeenth match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) proved to be a thrilling contest, filled with mesmerizing moments that captivated fans with sheer entertainment. While GT dominated the first innings with their batting prowess, the second innings showcased a display of their formidable bowling, with Noor Ahmed stealing the spotlight with a magical delivery that dismissed opposition batter Jonny Bairstow and left him utterly bewildered.
Shubman Gill’s class and Rahul Tewatia’s fireworks
GT’s innings kicked off with a solid start, thanks to Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill, who provided a cautious yet commanding foundation. As Saha departed early, Gill continued to mesmerize the audience with his impeccable strokeplay and went on to score brilliant 89 runs. The entry of Rahul Tewatia (23* off 8 deliveries) further fortified GT’s innings and powered them to a formidable total of 199/4.
Berserk hitting by Jonny Bairstow
In reply, PBKS didn’t shy away from the challenge. Despite losing their skipper Shikhar Dhawan early in the chase, Bairstow (22 runs) emerged as a potent force, unleashing a barrage of boundaries and sixes. His aggressive approach seemed to tilt the momentum in PBKS’s favor until the introduction of young sensation Noor in bowling by GT skipper Shubman turned out be a masterstroke.
Also WATCH: Shubman Gill hammers Kagiso Rabada for a classical straight six in GT vs PBKS clash of IPL 2024
‘Through the gates’: Noor Ahmed’s magical delivery stuns Bairstow
On the very first ball of his over, Noor delivered a moment of pure magic. With a deceptive googly, he lured Bairstow into a forward defensive stroke. Despite the minuscule gap between bat and pad, the ball snaked its way through, brushing the pad and dismantling the off stump. It was a sight to behold as Bairstow stood bewildered, unable to comprehend the sheer brilliance of the delivery that had just bamboozled him.
Here’s the video:
Right Through The Defence |/ 👌
Noor Ahmad gets Jonny Bairstow
Powerplay done, #PBKS are 54/2
Watch the match LIVE on @StarSportsIndia and @JioCinema 💻📱#TATAIPL | #GTvPBKS | @gujarat_titans pic.twitter.com/v60gkXe7Sh
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 4, 2024
As the match progressed, PBKS struggled to recover from the setback of losing Bairstow as it opened the floodgates and kept losing wickets at regular intervals.