Lucknow Super Giants scored 199/8 in 20 overs, where as Punjab Kings scored 178/5 in 20 overs.
So, finally Lucknow Super Giants beat Punjab Kings by 21 runs.
Lucknow Super Giants showcased an assertive brand of T20 cricket, shedding their conservatism in style to clinch their inaugural victory of IPL 2024.
Led by a commanding half-century from Quinton de Kock, supported by rapid-fire 40s from skipper Nicholas Pooran and Krunal Pandya, they amassed a formidable total of 199 – equalling the highest T20 score recorded at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.
Debutant Mayank Yadav then unleashed a fiery spell of middle-overs bowling, clocking speeds exceeding 150kph, to halt Punjab Kings’ momentum.
Despite a threatening 102-run opening partnership between Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow, Yadav’s performance proved decisive in clipping Punjab Kings’ wings.
With a different pitch underfoot and a new captain at the helm, Lucknow Super Giants approached the powerplay with a fresh strategy.
KL Rahul, though geared up and engaged in pre-match batting drills, remained absent during the toss.
Instead, Nicholas Pooran stepped in to elucidate Rahul’s role as an impact substitute, aiming to manage his workload due to a recent recurrence of quad troubles.
Interestingly, the stand-in skipper also chose to bat first on a newly laid surface.
Rahul, the regular captain, made an encouraging start with a brisk 9-ball 15, featuring a six and a four off Arshdeep Singh.
Meanwhile, Quinton de Kock, overcoming his own patchy form, took on fellow South African Kagiso Rabada with a boundary and a six, before dispatching Sam Curran for another maximum.
This propelled de Kock to 28 off 20 deliveries, contributing to a commanding 54-run PowerPlay for Lucknow.
Pooran and Stoinis dismantle Rahul Chahar’s bowling attack
Lucknow Super Giants’ phase following the PowerPlay commenced with two subdued overs of spin, with Harpreet Brar once again demonstrating exceptional control, even against left-handers.
However, Rahul Chahar bore the brunt of the onslaught in his second and third overs, as Marcus Stoinis dispatched him for consecutive sixes – one straight down the ground and the other over deep mid-wicket.
Chahar managed to deceive Stoinis with a quicker delivery, disrupting the all-rounder’s rhythm.
Nevertheless, Chahar found no respite as Nicholas Pooran stepped in to further punish him.
In the 12th over, Pooran launched a mighty slog sweep for six before driving a short ball past cover for four and then sending another fuller delivery soaring over the sight-screen, accumulating 20 runs in the over.
Chahar conceded 42 runs off his three overs and was not summoned to bowl another.
De Kock and Pooran receive a strong finishing boost from Krunal Pandya
After Quinton de Kock completed a brisk 34-ball half-century, he fell victim to Arshdeep’s leg-cutter bouncer on the first ball of the 13th over, mistiming his attempted pull shot.
However, Pooran refused to let the setback affect the scoring rate and promptly struck Arshdeep for two consecutive boundaries in the same over.
In the following over, Pooran confidently stepped down the pitch to the previously challenging Brar, smashing him over the long-on boundary.
Just as the 16th over commenced, Rabada returned to the attack and swiftly claimed a crucial breakthrough.
Attempting to carve a wide length delivery, Pooran inadvertently dragged the ball back onto his stumps, departing after a brisk 21-ball 42.
With Lucknow Super Giants in a precarious position at five down, the question arose whether they required a batting substitute.
However, another left-hander, Krunal Pandya, eliminated the need for such considerations with an impressive onslaught.
Pandya kickstarted his blitz with a powerful pull for six off Rabada.
He continued his assault by plundering 20 runs off Harshal Patel’s 18th over.
Despite an admirable death-overs performance from Sam Curran (3 for 28), Pandya’s unbeaten 43 off 22 balls enabled LSG to equal the highest T20 score at the venue.
A gripping counterattack ensued
The game intensified following the PowerPlay in the second innings, as Dhawan and Bairstow orchestrated a formidable partnership, amassing 61 runs.
They continued to build momentum, reaching 102 runs in just 11.3 overs before their partnership was broken, setting off a chain reaction.
Dhawan predominantly faced the deliveries during the initial phase of fielding restrictions, utilizing his impeccable timing to accumulate 41 runs off 25 balls.
Notably, 14 of these runs were plundered in the sixth over, delivered by Mohsin Khan, including a six and two fours.
While Dhawan was the primary aggressor, Bairstow efficiently maintained the required run rate, contributing 20 runs from just 11 deliveries during this period.
Following Dhawan’s attainment of a brisk 30-ball half-century with a powerful slog-swept six off Ravi Bishnoi, Bairstow assumed control.
The Englishman launched consecutive sixes over cow corner off Krunal Pandya before finding the boundary again in the subsequent over, propelling Punjab to 98/0 by the halfway mark of their chase.
Introducing Mayank Yadav
The 21-year-old speedster hailing from Delhi made an eye-catching entrance into the IPL arena.
Despite conceding 10 runs in his first over, Yadav grabbed attention when his third delivery clocked an impressive 150 kph on the speed gun.
The following over saw him elevate his pace further, with his first ball registering at a blistering 155 kph, leaving a well-set Dhawan stunned as it zipped past his attempted slash.
Yadav’s fiery pace proved fruitful as he claimed his maiden IPL wicket on the fourth delivery of his second over, inducing a top-edge from Bairstow’s attempted pull shot.
The onslaught continued as Prabhsimran Singh, too, fell prey to Yadav’s pace, departing after a brief yet explosive stay, accumulating 19 runs off just 7 balls, including a six each off Yadav and Bishnoi.
As Punjab faced the daunting task of maintaining a run rate above 10 runs an over, Jitesh Sharma attempted a pull shot only to miscue it, becoming another victim of Yadav’s relentless pace.
The debutant’s impactful spell of 3 for 27 forced Dhawan to chase down 60 runs from the final four overs, with a hobbling Liam Livingstone as his partner.
Livingstone had sustained a hamstring injury in the fourth over of the first innings and was far from his peak physical condition.
Mohsin clinches victory with a double breakthrough
The fate of PBKS was sealed in the early stages of the 17th over when Dhawan, after a resilient innings of 70 off 50 balls, gloved a short delivery down the legside, departing from the crease.
The following ball saw Sam Curran miscue a pull shot to mid-on, sealing PBKS’ defeat effectively.
Despite Livingstone’s late flurry of boundaries in the final over, the margin of defeat was merely reduced by those strikes.
What lies ahead for the teams?
PBKS, having lost two out of their three opening games in the season, will have a three-day break before they encounter Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on April 4.
Meanwhile, LSG face a quicker turnaround as they head to Bengaluru to take on RCB on April 2.
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