Siraj Buttler guide Gujarat to easy IPL win over Bengaluru

BENGALURU - Gujarat Titans handed Royal Challengers Bengaluru their first defeat of the Indian Premier League season on Wednesday, sealing an eight-wicket victory thanks to pace bowler Mohammed Sirajs three-wicket haul and batsman Jos Buttlers half-century.

With 170 required for victory after Bengaluru batsman Liam Livingstones battling 54 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Gujarat got home with 13 deliveries to spare with Buttler scoring an unbeaten 73 off 39 balls after Sai Sudharsan made 49.

Having reached his fifty with a six off Livingstone in the 15th over, Buttler produced some audacious shots to get his team across the finish line in style in the company of impact player Sherfane Rutherford, who made 30 not out.

I really enjoyed it. I thought the bowlers did a fantastic job. If we had fielded a bit better, looking at myself there, we would be chasing a few (runs) less, said Buttler.

But its a nice clinical win and well deserved. There was a bit in the wicket and the openers played really sensibly to take the sting out of that and set up the chase.

I was trying to play with a lot of freedom and intent. Ive had a few months of unenjoyable cricket, so I was trying to give my best and Im excited to be here.

Earlier, Phil Salt was dropped by England teammate Buttler in the opening over but Gujarat shrugged off the disappointment to bag the prized wicket of Virat Kohli in the next, as Arshad Khan had Bengalurus talisman caught in the deep for seven.

Former champions Gujarat continued to pile the pressure on Bengaluru as Siraj (3-19) bowled out Devdutt Padikkal and Salt before Ishant Sharma trapped skipper Rajat Patidar lbw for 12, leaving the home side teetering at 42-4 in the seventh over.

Livingstone,