Debutant Cooper Connolly Holds Nerve With Fifty As PBKS Edge GT In Mullanpur Thriller

Punjab Kings snatched a dramatic three-wicket win over Gujarat Titans in Mullanpur on Tuesday, with debutant Cooper Connolly producing a nerveless finish to seal the chase with five balls to spare. Chasing 163, PBKS looked to be cruising before a sudden collapse handed Gujarat a route back into the contest, but Connolly held his nerve under pressure and turned his first outing into a memorable one.

The Kings were rocked late in the chase as Gujarat kept striking at crucial moments, sparking a collapse that saw Punjab lose four wickets for just eight runs. Just when the Titans looked set to pull off an unlikely escape, Connolly stood firm, shifted the momentum once again and guided PBKS home in style.

Connolly's debut knock changes the game

Cooper Connolly emerged as the star of the chase, smashing a 34-ball half-century and taking control of Punjab Kings' pursuit after an early setback. Priyansh Arya departed cheaply, but Connolly joined hands with Prabhsimran Singh to revive the innings with an aggressive counterattack.

The pair kept the scoreboard moving and gradually pushed Gujarat Titans onto the back foot. For a large part of the chase, it looked like Punjab would stroll to victory. However, Rashid Khan removed Prabhsimran Singh at a crucial stage, giving Gujarat renewed hope and opening the door for a late twist.

Prasidh Krishna then tightened the screws for GT, claiming three wickets in a sharp spell and dragging the match back into the balance. Punjab suddenly found themselves wobbling, but Connolly refused to panic and ensured the hosts stayed ahead long enough to complete the job.

Vyshak and Chahal set up Punjab's win with the ball

Before the chase drama unfolded, Punjab Kings had produced a disciplined bowling display to restrict Gujarat Titans to 162/6 after Shreyas Iyer chose to field first.

Vijaykumar Vyshak and Yuzvendra Chahal were the chief architects of that effort. Vyshak returned figures of 3/34, while Chahal chipped in with 2/28 as Punjab kept Gujarat from breaking away at any stage of the innings.

Gujarat began brightly with Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan looking fluent at the top. The opening stand hinted at a strong platform, but Marco Jansen broke through in the fourth over by dismissing the left-hander and ending the promising partnership.

Gill, Buttler rebuild but Punjab strike back

After Sai Sudharsan's departure, Gill and Jos Buttler steadied the innings with a composed stand worth 46 runs. The two batters rebuilt smartly and appeared to be laying the foundation for a strong finish.

But just as Gujarat looked ready to accelerate, Chahal struck to remove Gill, who top-scored with 39. Buttler continued to anchor the innings, but Punjab's bowlers kept chipping away at the other end.

Glenn Phillips added a handy 25 and shared a 36-run partnership with Buttler, but Vijaykumar Vyshak broke that stand at the right time by dismissing Phillips. With Buttler contributing 38, Gujarat were still in with a chance of a late flourish, yet Chahal's dismissal of the England batter ensured PBKS remained in control.

Punjab hold their nerve in a thriller

Once Buttler departed, Punjab executed their plans neatly at the death and denied Gujarat the big finish they were searching for. The Titans eventually had to settle for 162/6, a competitive total but one that left room for Punjab to attack in the chase.

That chase nearly unravelled in dramatic fashion, but Connolly's composure under pressure proved decisive. On a night when wickets kept falling and momentum swung repeatedly, the debutant produced the standout performance and announced himself in the IPL in the best possible way.

Punjab Kings eventually crossed the line by three wickets with five balls remaining, capping off a tense contest with a memorable finish in Mullanpur.