In the second half of their bowling performance, a strong resurgence was evident, complemented by rapid half-centuries from Nicholas Pooran (61 runs off 34 balls) and Aiden Markram (58 runs off 31 balls). This combination propelled the Lucknow Super Giants to a six-wicket triumph over the Gujarat Titans, successfully chasing a target of 181 runs in just 19.3 overs, thereby elevating them to third place in the points table.
GT's openers get them to a steady start yet again
Following a promising start to the tournament with a couple of half-century partnerships, Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan struggled to form a significant partnership in their last three matches. Determined to rectify this, they began their innings positively after being invited to bat, consistently hitting boundaries to establish a solid foundation. LSG had an early opportunity to dismiss Gill when Pooran failed to execute a direct hit after the GT captain attempted a quick single. Both batsmen managed to hit three fours each, with Sudharsan also sending a delivery from Avesh Khan over deep backward square for the first six, helping GT reach 50 runs. While Shardul Thakur bowled a couple of economical overs, Akash Deep was costly during the powerplay, allowing 22 runs in his two overs.
As the innings progressed, the GT openers became increasingly productive with wickets in hand. The ninth over, bowled by Digvesh Rathi, marked the first instance where GT did not score a boundary, as they had been finding the fence consistently. Gill hit his first six in a 15-run over from Aiden Markram, reaching a fifty off 31 balls, and GT surpassed the 100-run mark in the 10th over. Sudharsan received a fortunate reprieve when Abdul Samad dropped a catch off Rathi, and the left-handed opener subsequently reached his fifty in just 34 balls, marking his 10th in the IPL with a boundary. Akash conceded 11 runs in his third over, which included a four from each opener, but the partnership came to an end in the 13th over when Aiden Markram took a well-judged catch near the long-on boundary, resulting in Avesh claiming Gill’s wicket. Only two runs were scored in that over, and Sudharsan was dismissed shortly after, caught by Pooran while attempting a shot over cover off Ravi Bishnoi. Washington Sundar also fell victim to a delivery that clipped the stumps in the same over, which yielded just five runs, allowing LSG to mount a strong comeback.
Following the rapid loss of wickets during the middle overs, the responsibility fell on Jos Buttler and Sherfane Rutherford to guide GT to a competitive total. However, LSG maintained a tight grip at the beginning of the death overs, with Bishnoi allowing just 4 runs in his final over. Rishabh Pant dropped Rutherford off Rathi’s bowling, but the bowler quickly redeemed himself by dismissing Buttler shortly after conceding a boundary. The 17th over yielded only 8 runs, with Rathi concluding his spell with figures of 1-30 from four overs. Shardul, despite delivering three wides and being hit for a four, restricted the scoring to just 10 runs in the 18th over. A 12-run over from Avesh, featuring two boundaries from Rutherford, propelled GT closer to the 170-run mark. Shortly after conceding a six, Shardul claimed Rutherford’s wicket and also dismissed Rahul Tewatia. LSG made a commendable recovery, allowing only 60 runs in the final eight overs of the innings.
LSG's strong foreign batting order shines yet again
With Mitchell Marsh absent for this match, Pant stepped in to open alongside Markram and received a fortunate break in the first over when Buttler was slow to respond. The initial two overs yielded only eight runs, but Siraj’s third over proved costly, allowing 20 runs, which included two boundaries for Markram, one for Pant, and five wides. Both Markram and Pant struck a four each off Arshad Khan, after which the right-handed Pant hit the first six of the innings by clearing midwicket against Prasidh Krishna. The bowler was unfortunate not to claim Markram’s wicket twice in the same over; Arshad dropped a catch at short third man, while Sudharsan managed to stop the ball diving at cover, although it was recorded as a half-chance. While Pant did not exhibit his usual flair, he did manage to hit a four off Rashid Khan, marking his third in the early stages. In contrast, Markram played confidently, accumulating six fours and a six.
Pant executed a commanding pull shot off Prasidh but was dismissed shortly after while attempting to attack a short delivery. Following this, a series of sixes ensued as Pooran launched a maximum off Rashid and Washington, followed by three sixes to the leg side in the 10th over off Sai Kishore, amassing 24 runs in that over. Markram continued to find success with boundaries, hitting fours off Washington and Sai Kishore, reaching a rapid fifty in just 26 balls as LSG surpassed 110 in the 10th over. He struck his ninth four by driving a delivery from Siraj over mid-off but was dismissed in the subsequent over by Prasidh. However, Pooran remained in formidable form, hitting a six over deep square leg off Siraj and a boundary to third man, which enabled him to achieve a remarkable fifty off just 23 balls, his first at the Ekana Stadium. By the conclusion of the middle overs, Pooran had raced to 61, reducing the target to 27 runs off 30 balls.
Rashid eventually ended Pooran’s stay as he found long on going for another six. Only three came off the 16th over while LSG managed just 6 off the next, but GT missed out on a key opportunity to send David Miller back as Buttler couldn’t collect the ball properly to effect a run-out. And such was the effect of Pooran’s knock that there wasn’t much pressure on LSG despite the tight overs from GT. But GT did well to take the game to the last over, with Miller getting bowled by Washington trying to play across the line in the 19th over. With six needed, Abdul Samad took a single before Ayush Badoni finished it off with a four and a six off Sai Kishore.
SCORECARD: Gujarat Titans 180/6 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 60, Sai Sudharsan 56; Shardul Thakur 2-34, Ravi Bishnoi 2-36) lost to Lucknow Super Giants 186/4 in 19.3 overs (Nicholas Pooran 61, Aiden Markram 58; Prasidh Krishna 2-26) by 6 wickets.
