Rajasthan Royals were reeling at 55/4 in the 11th over in pursuit of a challenging 178-run target at the Motera in Ahmedabad on Sunday. But the script changed thereafter.

Skipper Sanju Samson smashed a counter-attacking 32-ball 60 and Shimron Hetmyer (56 not out off 26 balls) carried out his role of a finisher to perfection as the Royals registered a spectacular come-from-behind three-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans to go atop the IPL 2023 standings.

When Hetmyer joined Samson, the Royals needed as many as 123 off just 57 balls after the Titans, put into bat, posted a competitive 177/7, riding combined efforts of Shubman Gill (45), David Miller (46) and Abhinav Manohar (27). But Samson trusted the game he likes to play and took the bull by the horns.

He took on ace leg-spinner Rashid Khan, one of Titans’ leading bowlers, and hammered him for a barrage of sixes in the Afghan’s third over. That put some pressure back on the Titans’ camp. The Royals were back in the game as Samson and Hetmyer hit 59 in only 4.3 overs in their fifth-wicket partnership.

But Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad (Impact Player for Gill) again pegged the Royals back as he picked up Samson in his very first over after being hit for a six and a four.

But Hetmyer was still there and he got good support from Dhruv Jurel (18 off 10 balls) and Ravichandran Ashwin (10 off 3 balls) as the Royals needed seven off the final over. Titans captain Hardik Pandya took a big risk in handing the ball over to Noor. With a two off the first ball, Hetmyer sealed it with his fifth maximum, pulling Noor as the ball sailed over wide long-on.

The Royals’ camp was ecstatic. After all, this was their first-ever win over the Titans.