New Delhi, April 8 Jos Buttler returned to his aggressive batting style with a half-century featuring sixes, before captain Shubman Gill also contributed with a well-made fifty, helping Gujarat Titans reach 210 for four against hosts Delhi Capitals in the IPL here on Wednesday.
Buttler (52 off 27 balls), who had a disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup in India, finally found his form. Besides Buttler and Gill (70 off 45 balls), Washington Sundar (55 off 32 balls) also contributed with his third fifty of the innings.
When Buttler is in form, the former England captain hits sixes effortlessly, and he smashed five of them at the Kotla. Four of these maximums came off medium-pacer Mukesh Kumar (2/55 in 4 overs), who had an off day after performing well against Mumbai Indians in the previous game.
Buttler targeted Mukesh in the fifth over, scoring 23 runs with three powerful hits that went for six.
One was over fine leg after he shuffled across the stumps, the second was a massive strike that reached the top tier of the "Gautam Gambhir Stand," and three balls later, he targeted the extra cover region.
Buttler's aggressive batting helped Delhi Capitals reach 68/1 in the powerplay. He was dismissed against the run of play, off a long hop from Kuldeep Yadav.
Gill, who was mostly a spectator while Buttler was batting, took the responsibility of clearing the boundaries after Buttler's departure.
Four of his five sixes came off India teammate Kuldeep, with the Titans captain effectively using the slog sweep against the wrist spinner.
The Titans have been criticized for having a top-heavy batting lineup, with the middle order not being tested enough. Washington Sundar played his part well at number four on Wednesday.
The left-handed batsman targeted the mid-wicket boundary against the spinners, especially Vipraj Nigam, who leaked 23 runs in the 12th over.
Sundar reached his half-century with a six over deep square leg off T Natarajan.
At 161/2 in 15 overs, the Titans were on course for 220, but they fell short.
Lungi Ngidi was the pick of the bowlers for Delhi Capitals, ending with frugal figures of 24/1 in four overs.