By Lucknow Super Giants defended 163 successfully with Yash Thakur (5-30) and Krunal Pandya (3-11) playing a stellar role in the defense on a sticky surface. This victory placed LSG in the third spot on the points table as they secured their third consecutive win, their first-ever against Gujarat Titans.
Umesh rocks LSG
On a two-paced pitch, LSG lost two crucial top-order wickets inside the powerplay after winning the toss, setting them back for the rest of the innings. Umesh Yadav had a good powerplay where he first had Quinton de Kock caught in the deep and then survived a close call against Devdutt Padikkal. However, that disappointment was short-lived as he had Padikkal edging one angling across, caught at slip by Vijay Shankar. At 18/2, LSG faced further challenges.
Rahul, Stoinis dig in
With the pitch also causing difficulties, not allowing for free-flowing stroke-making, LSG focused on building a partnership in a more conventional manner. Both KL Rahul and Marcus Stoinis preferred cautious play through the middle overs, with turning the strike over becoming the norm. The duo put on 73 runs in 62 balls, attempting to give LSG a platform to accelerate from. However, this turned into a hiccup as Rahul fell while trying to increase the scoring rate, skying a catch to long on off Darshan Nalkande. The pacer struck again in his next over, dismissing the other set batter, Stoinis, who had crossed fifty, further setting LSG back.
Pooran delivers again
Entering the final overs needing to finish well, LSG had the right man for the job in Nicholas Pooran. LSG managed 49 runs in the last five overs of the innings, mainly thanks to Pooran, who finished with a 22-ball 32, including three sixes. This ensured that LSG went well past 150, setting a challenging total on a tricky surface.
Gujarat get a blazing start
The powerplay couldn’t have gone better for the visitors, with Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill amassing 54 runs inside the first six overs. The duo also took on pace sensation Mayank Yadav, hitting him for three boundaries in an over before the speedster walked off the field with what is presumably an injury concern. Sudharsan, in particular, took on the role of the enforcer adeptly in the absence of Wriddhiman Saha, who had been ruled out due to an injury. However, what started as a dream quickly turned sour for the Titans after the powerplay.
LSG Secures a convincing win
Krunal and Co. gain a stranglehold
With Gill being bowled by Yash Thakur off the last ball of the powerplay, it allowed for an opening for the Super Giants. Krunal Pandya and Ravi Bishnoi combined to dismantle the Titans with regular strikes through the middle overs. Bishnoi first took a superb return catch to dismiss Kane Williamson, who had come in as the impact sub. Pandya struck twice in the next over, dismissing Sudharsan mistiming a big hit to deep midwicket and then having BR Sharath caught off an attempted sweep. In his final over, Pandya got Darshan Nalkande caught at short fine leg, finishing with fantastic figures of 3-11 in his four overs.
Thakur nails the final blows
While Gujarat still remained in the chase ever so slightly while banking on their lower middle-order to do a better job, it was not to be, with Yash Thakur delivering a double-wicket maiden. The pacer had Vijay Shankar edging a cut before Rashid Khan toe-ended a big hit to mid-off. While Rahul Tewatia glimmered with a quickfire 30, Thakur came back to strike twice more and pick up the first five-wicket haul of IPL 2024, giving LSG their third win in four games this season.
What’s next?
Gujarat travels to Jaipur to take on the unbeaten Rajasthan Royals on April 10, while Lucknow has a four-day gap before they host Delhi Capitals on April 12.
Brief Scores: Lucknow Super Giants 163/5 in 20 overs (Marcus Stoinis 58) beat Gujarat Titans 130 in 18.5 overs (Yash Thakur 5-30, Krunal Pandya 3-11) by 33 runs
