Rashid magic inspires Gujarat to thrilling win

Afghan maestro Rashid Khan was back working his wonders with bat and ball in the manner all Adelaide Strikers' fans have come to know and love and proved the Gujarat Titans' hero once again with his brilliant all-round display that downed the previously unbeaten Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur on Thursday (AEST).

After taking a wicket while giving up only a miserly 18 runs off his four overs in Rajasthan's formidable 3-196, Rashid then cracked an unbeaten 24 off just 11 balls, completing the unlikely chase with a boundary slashed over point off the very last ball to earn the visitors a last-gasp, three-wicket win.

It was a glorious return to form for the beaming 25-year-old who missed the BBL season because of back surgery and admitted to have been a little out of sorts with his leg-spinning wiles since his return.

"I've been struggling a bit with my bowling and was happy to hit the right areas again today," Rashid said.

"That made me happier and gave me energy in my batting. It's really hard coming back after four months, but it's all good now."

Yet it might have been an even more auspicious and straightforward day for him but for a couple of missed chances off his bowling by 36-year-old Matthew Wade, who was back in IPL action for the first time since 2022, brought into the side to replace Kane Williamson.

It started well enough for the Tasmanian, who's never enjoyed the same sort of success in the IPL that he's enjoyed for Australia, as he leapt like a salmon to take a brilliant catch above his head when Yashasvi Jaiswal gloved an attempted scoop off Umesh Yadav.

But Wade then spilled fine edges - twice - off Rashid's bowling to give Riyan Parag reprieves, on nought and six. 

They were expensive mistakes as Parag cashed in to hammer 76 off 48 balls, including five sixes, while Rajasthan's captain Sanju Samson also leathered an unbeaten 68 from 38.

Samson took a particular liking to Spencer Johnson's bowling, ruining his early impressive start by going after the Australian in his third over, which got caned for 16. Otherwise, the Adelaide paceman did pretty well, conceding 37 in all in his four wicketless overs.

Wade missed a chance to redeem himself with the bat when the left-hander tried an extravagant drive off quick Kuldeep Sen (3-41) and got a big inside edge and was bowled for just four.

When captain Shubman Gill's lone hand came to end for 72 and Rashid soon appeared at No.8 with 40 still needed off just 15 balls, it looked a hopeless task.

Despite sharing a defiant big-hitting partnership with Rahul Tewatia, Rashid still needed 15 off the last over bowled by Avesh Khan, but hit 11 off the first four to give them a great chance.

Tewatia hit a couple more, sacrificing his wicket in a run-out when going for a third run to get Rashid on strike for the last ball, and, naturally, the wizard didn't disappoint as a poor short ball from Avesh got what it deserved.

IPL 2024 standings

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Ties T	No results N/R	Net Run Rate NRR	Deductions Ded.	Total points PTS
1 Kolkata Knight Riders KKR	14	9	3	0	2	1.428	0	20
2 Sunrisers Hyderabad SUN	14	8	5	0	1	0.414	0	17
3 Rajasthan Royals RAJ	14	8	5	0	1	0.273	0	17
4 Royal Challengers Bengaluru Men RCB	14	7	7	0	0	0.459	0	14
5 Chennai Super Kings CSK	14	7	7	0	0	0.392	0	14
6 Delhi Capitals Men DEL	14	7	7	0	0	-0.377	0	14
7 Lucknow Super Giants LSG	14	7	7	0	0	-0.667	0	14
8 Gujarat Titans GUT	14	5	7	0	2	-1.063	0	12
9 Punjab Kings KXI	14	5	9	0	0	-0.353	0	10
10 Mumbai Indians MI	14	4	10	0	0	-0.318	0	8

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

T: Ties

N/R: No results

NRR: Net Run Rate

Ded.: Deductions

PTS: Total points

Australians in IPL 2024

Delhi Capitals: Mitch Marsh (A$1.2m), David Warner (A$1.16m), Jhye Richardson (A$890,000), Jake Fraser-McGurk (A$92,000)

Gujarat Titans: Spencer Johnson (A$1.78m), Matthew Wade (A$446,000)

Kolkata Knight Riders: Mitchell Starc (A$4.43m)

Lucknow Super Giants: Marcus Stoinis (A$1.7m), Ashton Turner (A$178,000)

Mumbai Indians: Tim David (A$1.53m)

Punjab Kings: Nathan Ellis (A$135,000)

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Cameron Green (A$3.15m), Glenn Maxwell (A$2m)

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins (A$3.67m), Travis Head (A$1.2m)

*Prices in AUD, conversions correct at time of auction