On a night full of fours, sixes and runs, Lucknow Super Giants emerged victorious as they got the better of Punjab Kings by 56 runs, in Mohali’s PCA IS Bindra Stadium. Chasing a humongous target of 258 runs in match 38 of the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, Shikhar Dhawan’s team were bowled out for 201.
The captain himself had a day to forget, as making his comeback from an injury, he lost his wicket to Marcus Stoinis in the very first over, after scoring only a solitary run. To make matters worse, his opening partner, Prabhsimran Singh also couldn’t get into the double digits.
However, Punjab did have a glimmer of hope when Atharva Taide and Sikandar Raza were at the crease. The former, who had scored only 33 runs before this match, played the best knock of his IPL career thus far – scoring 66 runs in 36 deliveries.
Raza also did well to score a 22-ball 36, but they were dismissed in consecutive overs, which led to further dominance by the visitors. Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran and Jitesh Sharma got off to good starts and played cameos, but given the tall climb that Punjab faced, they needed heroics more than the cameos.
IPL 2023: Yash Thakur picked up a four-wicket haul for Lucknow Super Giants.
(Photo: BCCI)
For Lucknow, Yash Thakur was the most successful bowler as he picked up four wickets, while Afghan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq also did well to dismiss Prabhsimran Singh, Sam Curran and Kagiso Rabada.
Lucknow Enter Elite League
Earlier, attacking fifties from Marcus Stoinis and Kyle Mayers powered KL Rahul’s team to a historic 257/5 against Punjab. Lucknow got off to a flying start, thanks to Kyle Mayers' 54 off 24.
The Caribbean opener took the bowlers to the cleaners, hitting five boundaries and a massive six on free hit in three overs. In the fourth over, Kagiso Rabada drew the first blood as handed Rahul marching orders.
That, however, did not deter Mayers one bit, as he completed his fifty off just 20 balls inside the powerplay. However, Rabada didn't let him stay on the crease for long as he dismissed the dangerous batter soon after he completed his half-century. At the end of the powerplay, LSG were 74 for 2.
IPL 2023: Ayush Badoni and Marcus Stoinis built a 23-run third-wicket stand.
(Photo: BCCI)
Marcus Stoinis and Ayush Badoni continued with the onslaught as the duo kept LSG bowlers at bay with their calculated hits and stitched 89 off 47 balls for the third-wicket partnership.
Badoni lost his wicket to Liam Livingstone when he top-edged the ball towards the deep square leg fielder and Chahar judged this one well and took a nice low catch. Nicholas Pooran applied the finishing touches with his 19-ball 45, as his strike rate soared up to nearly 200 this season.
(With inputs from IANS).
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)