A united performance from the bowlers was complemented by aggressive batting from Prabhsimran Singh (69 runs off 34 balls), Shreyas Iyer (52 not out off 30 balls), and Nehal Wadhera (43 not out off 25 balls), leading the Punjab Kings to a commanding eight-wicket victory over the Lucknow Super Giants, marking their second consecutive win. In their inaugural home match, LSG posted a total of 171/7, which ultimately fell short against a dominant Punjab team that achieved the target with 3.4 overs remaining.
Punjab Kings' restrict LSG to a low total
LSG faced an early setback when the in-form Mitchell Marsh was dismissed for a golden duck, edging a delivery from Arshdeep while attempting to play a leg-side tuck. The opening over yielded only three runs, and Lockie Ferguson, who took over from Azmatullah Omarzai, followed with another economical over, conceding just four runs. Aiden Markram initiated LSG’s innings with three boundaries off Arshdeep in the third over and continued his assault on Ferguson, hitting a four and a six. However, Ferguson retaliated by bowling Markram, who inside-edged the ball onto his stumps. LSG encountered another blow in the subsequent over when Rishabh Pant sent a short ball from Glenn Maxwell directly to short fine leg, and a quiet over from Marco Jansen concluded a successful powerplay for PBKS.
Although Ayush Badoni had a slow start, managing to top-edge a six off Jansen, Nicholas Pooran played a crucial role in maintaining LSG’s momentum with consistent boundaries. Pooran showcased his prowess against spin, targeting Maxwell and Yuzvendra Chahal effectively. He also hit a four and a six off Marcus Stoinis, contributing to a half-century partnership. Just as Pooran seemed poised for his fifth consecutive IPL fifty, he fell six runs short, lured into a lofted shot by Chahal and caught at long off. Meanwhile, Badoni, who had scored 16 off 19 balls, found his rhythm with a beautiful cover drive for six off Ferguson. David Miller began to accelerate after a cautious start, hitting boundaries off Chahal and Maxwell, helping LSG regain their footing.
Jansen claimed the wicket of Miller, who attempted to drive a delivery with extra bounce, resulting in an edge to the wicketkeeper. Abdul Samad made an immediate impact, hitting a six off his first ball, while Badoni also launched a maximum off Chahal. LSG gained significant momentum in the 18th over, where Arshdeep conceded 20 runs, including three fours and a six, highlighted by an audacious scoop shot from Samad. However, PBKS finished strongly, as Jansen bowled a tight 19th over, allowing only eight runs, and Arshdeep made a strong comeback in the final over, dismissing both Badoni and Samad.
Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer chase it down for PBKS
Prabhsimran provided a strong start for PBKS, hitting two fours and a six within the first two overs. Priyansh Arya capitalized on a short delivery from Digvesh Rathi, securing a boundary before being dropped by Marsh at slip. Shortly after, Arya top-edged a pull shot, leading to his dismissal in the same over, accompanied by a send-off from the bowler that echoed the style of Kesrick Williams. Despite this setback, PBKS maintained their momentum, with Prabhsimran continuing to score freely, including two fours and a six off Ravi Bishnoi, propelling the team past 60 runs before the conclusion of the powerplay.
M Siddharth, introduced as an impact substitute, faced an immediate challenge as Prabhsimran greeted him with a switch-hit four. Iyer followed suit, hitting a maximum over cover in the same over, and Prabhsimran then took a single to reach his fifty off just 23 balls. The boundary onslaught persisted, with Prabhsimran striking two fours off Bishnoi and another off Siddharth. Iyer also contributed significantly, hooking a short ball from Shardul Thakur for a six, as PBKS eliminated 64 percent of their target in the first half of their innings. A remarkable relay catch near the boundary, executed by Badoni and Bishnoi, concluded Prabhsimran’s entertaining innings, granting Rathi his second wicket.
Nehal Wadhera, the impact substitute for PBKS, consistently found the boundary, including two sixes and a four in an over from Bishnoi. Iyer also showcased his skills, hitting a four and a six off Avesh Khan, leaving PBKS needing just 17 runs from 30 balls. Wadhera smashed a six off Thakur to complete the half-century partnership, followed by another six that reduced the target to single digits. After a four and a dot ball, Iyer, on 46, hit the winning six, marking his second consecutive fifty. PBKS’s comfortable victory also significantly improved their net run rate, elevating them to the second position on the points table.
SCORECARD: Lucknow Super Giants 171/7 in 20 overs (Nicholas Pooran 44, Ayush Badoni 41; Arshdeep Singh 3-43) lost to Punjab Kings 177/2 in 16.2 overs (Prabhsimran Singh 69, Shreyas Iyer 52*, Nehal Wadhera 43*; Digvesh Singh Rathi 2-30) by 8 wickets.
