New Delhi, April 8 Gujarat Titans secured their first win of the season following a dramatic final over, as a dominant David Miller's momentary lapse in judgment cost Delhi Capitals dearly in an IPL match here on Wednesday.
Miller declined a single off the penultimate ball bowled by Prasidh Krishna, highlighting his lack of trust in partner Kuldeep Yadav. Prasidh bowled a slower ball that Miller missed, and Jos Buttler, having taken a catch, broke the stumps before Kuldeep could get to it.
Delhi Capitals finished agonizingly short at 209 for 8, chasing a target of 211.
Jos Buttler (52 off 27) returned to his aggressive form with a half-century filled with sixes, while captain Shubman Gill (70 off) and Washington Sundar (55 off 32) powered Gujarat Titans to 210 for four.
Rahul (92 off 52) and Pathum Nissanka (41 off 24) provided a solid platform for Delhi Capitals with a 76-run stand off 49 balls. However, Rashid Khan struck three times in the middle overs, wresting the momentum from Delhi Capitals.
Titans had complete control until the 19th over, with Delhi needing 36 off the last two overs.
It was a challenging task, but with Miller (41 not out off 20) returning to the crease after treating a finger, there was hope.
Miller single-handedly brought Delhi Capitals back into the game with two powerful sixes and a four in a 23-run penultimate over from Mohammed Siraj.
With most of the Titans pacers proving expensive, the experienced Prasidh Krishna was left to defend 13 off the last six balls.
Vipraj Nigam departed after a four off the first ball, leaving Miller with 8 to get off the last three balls.
What followed was a mammoth hit over long-off that almost sealed the deal for Delhi Capitals. Miller refused a single on the penultimate ball, and that proved to be decisive in the end.
With 2 needed off the final ball, Prasidh bowled a slow bouncer that Miller missed, leaving Kuldeep Yadav short of his crease. The umpire called a wide, but it was deemed a fair delivery, leaving Miller disappointed.
This was the first loss of the season for Delhi Capitals in as many games, while Titans finally secured a home win after three attempts.
Earlier, Buttler smashed five sixes at the Kotla. Four of those maximums came off medium-pacer Mukesh Kumar (2/55 in 4 overs), who had an off day after starring in the previous game against Mumbai Indians.
Buttler targeted Mukesh in the fifth over of the innings, collecting 23 runs via three hits that went all the way.
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 onslaught helped Delhi Capitals reach 68 for one in the powerplay. He was dismissed against the run of play, off a long hop from Kuldeep Yadav.
Gill, who was largely a spectator while Buttler was batting, took on the responsibility to clear the ropes 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.
Titans have been criticized for having a top-heavy team with their middle order not being adequately tested. Washington Sundar played his part well at number four on Wednesday.
The left-arm spinner picked 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 for two in 15 overs, Titans were on course for 220, but fell short.
Lungi Ngidi was the pick of the bowlers for Delhi Capitals, ending with frugal figures of 24 for one in four overs.