On a sloppy surface, Yash Thakur (5-30) and Krunal Pandya (3-11) played outstanding defense to help the Lucknow Super Giants successfully defend 163. With their third straight victory and their first-ever over Gujarat Titans, it moved LSG up to third place in the standings.
Umesh dominates LSG
After winning the toss, LSG lost two significant top-order wickets during the powerplay on a two-paced pitch, which put them behind for the remainder of the innings. In a masterful powerplay, Umesh Yadav first caught Quinton de Kock off guard before just missing a chance to dismiss Devdutt Padikkal. That disappointment, however, was short-lived as Vijay Shankar caught Padikkal edging one angling across and at slip. LSG had to prepare for more difficulties at 18/2.
Rahul and Stoinis focus
Since the pitch was also acting up and preventing LSG from making free-flowing strokes, they were happy to forge a connection through more traditional means. Turning the strike over became the norm as KL Rahul and Marcus Stoinis both favored to play cautiously through the middle overs. Together, they scored 73 runs in 62 balls in an effort to provide LSG with a platform from which to take off. However, things quickly became problematic when Rahul stumbled while attempting to up the pace and mishandled a catch off Darshan Nalkande. In his subsequent over, the pacer struck once more, this time getting the second set batter, Stoinis, who had reached his fifty, and further lagging LSG.
Once more, Pooran delivers.
LSG needed to finish strong going into the last overs. And Nicholas Pooran was the right man, scuttling his way inside. In the final five overs of the game, LSG scored 49 runs, primarily because of Pooran, who concluded with a 22-ball 32 that included three sixes. On a challenging surface, it made sure that LSG went well beyond 150 and a total to play with.
Gujarat gets off to a fast start.
With 54 runs scored in the first six overs by Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill, the visitors’ powerplay could not have gone much better. Additionally, the pair destroyed pace sensation Mayank Yadav, striking him for three boundaries in a single over before the quickster left the field with what appeared to be a potential injury. Wriddhiman Saha was unable to play because of an injury, therefore Sudharsan in particular played the enforcer position pretty skillfully. After the powerplay, what had seemed like a dream rapidly took a turn for the worse for the Titans.
Krunal and associates secure a tight grip
The Super Giants had an opportunity after Gill was bowled by Yash Thakur off the final ball of the powerplay. Through the middle overs, Krunal Pandya and Ravi Bishnoi teamed to destroy the Titans with consistent strikes. First, Bishnoi dismissed Kane Williamson, the impact sub, with a brilliant return catch. In the subsequent over, Pandya struck twice, firstly by mistiming a massive smash to deep midwicket, and secondly by catching BR Sharath off guard on an attempted sweep. Pandya finished with amazing figures of 3-11 in his four overs when he got Darshan Nalkande caught at short fine in his final over.
Thakur delivers the last strikes.
Gujarat tried to stay in the chase, though, by relying on their lower middle-order to perform better, but Yash Thakur’s double-wicket maiden proved to be too much for them. Vijay Shankar was edged towards a cut by the pacer, but Rashid Khan toe-ended a massive smash to mid off. Thakur returned to win twice more and take the first five wicket haul of IPL 2024, earning LSG their third victory in four games this season, while Rahul Tewatia dazzled with a quickfire thirty.
What comes next?
Gujarat will play the undefeated Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur on April 10, and Lucknow will enjoy a four-day break before defeating the Delhi Capitals on April 12.
Brief Scores: Gujarat Titans 130 in 18.5 overs (Yash Thakur 5-30, Krunal Pandya 3-11) lost to Lucknow Super Giants 163/5 in 20 overs (Marcus Stoinis 58) by 33 runs.
