IPL thriller: Connolly’s 72 seals nervy Punjab Kings win over Gujarat Titans

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. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Connolly doesn’t announce himself with theatrics. 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. If Connolly was the steadying factor, Prabhsimran was the early spark, ensuring the asking rate never spiralled.Just as Punjab seemed to be cruising, Prasidh Krishna forced his way in. His spell of 3 for 29 didn’t just fetch wickets, it shifted momentum towards Gujarat.By the time Punjab entered the final overs, the equation had tightened considerably. Connolly, though, kept picking his moments. His five sixes were not acts of desperation but of calculation, each one easing the pressure just enough to keep Punjab afloat.And then came the final twist. With the game tilting precariously and wickets in hand running thin, Xavier Bartlett walked in. His unbeaten 11 off 5 balls swung the momentum totally in Punjab’s favour. At the other end, Connolly saw Punjab through with an innings that spoke more of temperament than flair.Earlier, Gujarat never quite found their rhythm on a surface that kept asking questions. It wasn’t a collapse, nor was it a free-flowing assault. Just an innings that stayed stuck in second gear for far too long.Shubman Gill began with assurance, stroking his way to a fluent 39 (off 27b; 6x4), while Jos Buttler, measured but watchful, made 38 (off 33b; 3x54, 2x6). Together, they gave Gujarat Titans a steady start, adding early runs without taking undue risks.The Powerplay moved along smoothly, and for a brief period, it seemed like Gujarat were setting up for a big total. But the surface had other ideas.There was a subtle grip in the pitch, just enough to make timing inconsistent. Punjab pacer Vijaykumar Vyshak recognised it quickly. Bowling hard lengths into the wicket, he forced the batters to generate their own pace. His spell of 3 for 34 didn’t just fetch wickets; it slowed the innings down, over by over.Gill, who looked the most comfortable of the lot, fell at a crucial moment, unable to push on after getting set. That dismissal shifted the tone. Gujarat weren’t collapsing, but they weren’t progressing either.If Vyshak applied the squeeze, Yuzvendra Chahal tightened it further. The leg-spinner was clever with his variations, finishing with 2 for 28. He accounted for Buttler, who had struggled to break free, and kept the middle overs under control with his changes of pace and flight.Glenn Phillips tried to change the narrative. His 25 (off 17b; 1x4, 1x6) came with intent hinted at acceleration. But even he couldn’t sustain it.