Instant impact for Joseph as Titans win curtain-raiser

AHMEDABAD, India (CMC):

West Indies quick Alzarri Joseph wasted little time in making an instant impact for Gujarat Titans, grabbing a brace of wickets to help them beat star-studded Chennai Super Kings by five wickets in Friday’s opening match of the cash-rich Indian Premier League.

The 26-year-old starred for West Indies in the recent 2-1 series win over South Africa, snatching his first-ever five-wicket haul in Twenty20 Internationals in the decider in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

And playing at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Joseph finished with two for 33 from his four-over spell as CSK were restricted to 178 for seven from their 20 overs, opener Ruturaj Gaikwad top-scoring with 92 off 50 deliveries.

The Titans’ run chase was steered by Shubman Gill’s 63 from 36 balls, the hosts overhauling their target with four balls to spare.

Sent in, CSK lost New Zealander Devon Conway cheaply for one in the third over with 14 runs on the board, but Gaikwad took control of the innings, belting four fours and nine sixes while stitching together key stands.

The 26-year-old right-hander put on 36 for the second wicket with England all-rounder Moeen Ali (23) before adding 51 for the fourth wicket with Ambati Rayudu (12).

Joseph turned the game for Titans, however, removing Gaikwad and the dangerous Ravindra Jadeja (1) in the space of four deliveries in his final over, the 18th of the innings which yielded only four runs.

Off the first delivery, Gaikwad was caught at long on off a high full toss, and moments later, Jadeja picked out mid-wicket swinging at a full-length delivery.

In reply, Gill put on 37 for the first wicket with Wriddhiman Saha (25) before putting on a crucial 53 for the second wicket with Sai Sudharsan (22).

The 23-year-old Gill struck half-dozen fours and three sixes before perishing at the end of the 15th over with the score on 138, but by then, Titans were already in sight of victory.