MNT VS GJG T20

That's it from this game then! But we are not done for the day yet. In just a few minutes' time, we shall have the second game of this Saturday double header - Toyam Hyderabad taking on Southern Super Stars. The first ball will be bowled at 7 pm IST (1330 GMT) but our colleagues have already made a headstart to that game. Please head over to that matchcentre to catch all the action. In the meanwhile, you can also catch some action from the Women's T20 World Cup, with England scheduled to take on Bangladesh. Keep browsing the tabs to find the match you want to follow. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Gujarat Greats will have their next match against India Capitals, on Monday, 7th October, 2024, in a night game at this same venue in Jammu. Manipal Tigers too, will have their last shot against India Capitals, but on Thursday, 10th October, 2024, in a night game in Srinagar, beginning at 7 pm IST (1330 GMT). One believes that before that Thursday clash, this table will even up and we should be in a good position to know whether Gujarat can qualify or not, assuming that Manipal look good enough to make it through.

Victorious Manipal Tigers captain, HARBHAJAN SINGH, says that it was a difficult wicket to bat on but his side executed the plans and which is why they are on the winning side. Admits that by bowling second, they managed to understand the pitch a lot better in the chase. On the batting approach, Bhajji says that the batters first concentrated on getting the team to safety and then play their strokes. Is happy to have Praveen Gupta back in the side and happier for busting the myth which states that a left-armer cannot bowl to a left-hander, by dismissing both, Dhawan and Gayle. On the victory celebration, Harbhajan says that the results do not matter at the end of the day and they celebrate at the end of the game, irrespective of the result.

Manipal Tigers' PRAVEEN GUPTA HAS BEEN NAMED AS THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH. No interview. Sad.

Gujarat Greats skipper, SHIKHAR DHAWAN, says that 131 was a good score on the board, albeit not a winning one, but a fighting one for sure. Praises Manipal for bowling and batting well, keeping Gujarat under pressure. Rues his team's poor show in the Powerplay with both bat and ball, with both sides looking to make the most of the fielding restrictions. Is excited to see Chris Gayle in the eleven and hopes for a big knock in the coming games. Confirms that The Universe Boss will not open and will come at 3.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Not a great day at the office for the Greats. First, they threw the advantage away of winning the toss by losing 3 wickets inside 4 overs and then, with the ball, threw away another advantage through the back end of the first innings, by being listless with the ball. Mohammad Kaif's 34 and a quickfire 20 from Seekkuge Prasanna pushed them to 131 but had they batted a bit more sensibly, they could have got to 150 and that could have made a difference. 3 run outs in the innings tells you the story. Manipal Tigers were excellent with the ball, with Praveen Gupta's 2/27 standing out. There was a bit of bizarre captaincy by Harbhajan Singh towards the end, not utilizing his primary bowlers but he got away with it. Please stay tuned for the presentation...

Gujarat then came back, through Manan Sharma and Seekkuge Prasanna, as they managed to stage a mini collapse, reducing Manipal to 86/5 from 82/2. At that stage, it did appear like the Greats were coming back into the game, but along came two Sri Lankan finishers - Asela Gunaratne and Thisara Perera - who just took the bull by the horns. There is a saying in cricket - if there is something which is troubling you, hit your way out of trouble. Spinners got Gujarat back into the game and it was those same spinners who were targetted by the two Lankans. Suddenly, in a matter of 10 balls, 21 runs were scored and the pressure shifted considerably.

At the halfway mark, we did feel that 132 was a challenging target on this particular pitch where the balls were keeping low and not quite coming onto the bat. But an ordinary start from Gujarat helped Manipal in fine fashion as the openers just teed off. They got 40 in the first 4 overs and eventually ended the Powerplay with 57/2, effectively killing the chase there itself.

Comfortable victory for Manipal in the end. They seemed to stutter a little bit in the middle overs, when they lost 3 wickets in the span of 7 balls, but experience eventually got them through. They jump up to second in the points table, while Gujarat Greats have dropped down to 5th. They have a couple of games left, but it is going to be dependent on other teams as well.

SIX! THISARA PERERA KILLS THE GAME WITH 18 BALLS TO SPARE! Right in the arc of the southpaw, full and on the off stump line, Thisara Perera clears his front leg, gets his bat properly underneath it and lifts it over cow corner for a huge six. Back-to-back wins for Manipal Tigers! Their third of this season!

SCORES LEVEL! Length-delivery outside off, Perera drills it down to long off where Asghar Afghan fumbles to pick up, parries it behind him and allows an extra run.

Mohammad Kaif is everywhere! He has been a busy fielder in this game! Short in length, and on the stumps, Thisara Perera stands upright and pulls it over mid-wicket. The ball dribbles on a couple of bounces to the deep. Mohammad Kaif however, charges in from deep mid-wicket to his left and intercepts the ball on a timely slide. Two taken!

WIDE! Bangs it into the surface, outside leg, Thisara Perera ducks underneath it. Wided.

Full and across off, Thisara Perera stands tall and mistimes it to the off side.

WIDE! Down the leg side, Thisara Perera misses to glance it through and a Wide is called.

SIX! MERCILESS! Short in length, on the stumps, Thisara Perera gets a good bounce on the waist level, weighs on the back foot and pulls it high and handsome over deep mid-wicket for a huge six.

Liam Plunkett charges in and lands it on a good length, angling over the top of off, it does stay a bit low on bounce, Thisara Perera is early to turn it away across and inside edges it on the front pad.

Expecting a change as Quadri is done with his 4. Liam Plunkett returns with a change of ends. Went for 5 in his opener.