The Gujarat Titans spin attack, led by left-armer R. Sai Kishore (4/33), had a stranglehold on the Punjab Kings batting line-up. But though the target was only 143, the Titans batsmen invited pressure on themselves before Rahul Tewatia (36 not out off 18 balls) ensured a win by three wickets in Mullanpur on Sunday.

Alongside Sai Kishore, the Afghan duo of left-arm tweaker Noor Ahmad (2/20) and ace leg-spinner Rashid Khan (1/15) also contributed as the Kings lost their way despite a 52-run opening stand from stand-in skipper Sam Curran (20) and Prabhsimran Singh (35), and were bowled out for 142. Even Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma, the two most consistent batters of the Kings, couldn't deliver.

In reply, the Titans were cruising at 66/1 in the 10th over with captain Shubman Gill (35) and Impact Player Sai Sudharsan (31) well set. But lack of application from some of their batters kept their rivals' hopes alive. Gill and David Miller fell in quick succession to Liam Livingstone and soon after, the Titans found themselves at 103/5 with 40 needed off 26 balls.

The calm Tewatia then hit Kagiso Rabada for three boundaries in the 18th over of the run chase, which yielded the Titans 20. It was Tewatia who scored the winning runs then with five balls to spare.