Lucknow Super Giants became only the third team to win three consecutive matches in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL), as they defeated Gujarat Titans by 33 runs on Sunday (7 April), at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium. Lucknow’s bowlers deserve lion’s share of credit for this win, as they bowled Gujarat out paltry score of 130 after setting up a target of 164 runs.
The pitch at Lucknow was not particularly conducive for the batters, although it did seem so for the first five overs of Gujarat’s innings, where they accumulated 47 runs. The first wicket arrived in the last over of the powerplay when Yash Thakur castled Shubman Gill.
A couple of overs later, Ravi Bishnoi took a spectacular catch off his own bowling to dismiss Kane Williamson, which triggered a procession of wickets. Krunal Pandya dismissed BR Sharath and Sai Sudharsan in his next over, and then Darshan Nalkande, finishing his spell with remarkable numbers of 4-0-11-3.
Vijay Shankar toiled and tottered, but never really looked comfortable. He scored a run-a-ball 17 before losing his wicket to Yash Thakur, who later completed a fifer by dismissing Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad.
The only batter barring the openers who could breach the 20-run mark from the Gujarat camp was Rahul Tewatia, as he scored a 25-ball 30. However, it was nowhere near enough to prevent a defeat.
Marcus Stoinis Scored 58 For Lucknow
Earlier, Marcus Stoinis 58 off 43 deliveries and late fire by Nicholas Pooran lifted Lucknow Super Giants to 163/5. Batting first on their home ground, Lucknow suffered an early setback as opener Quinton de Kock got out after opening his account with a six to Umesh Yadav. In an attempt for another six to a short of a length delivery, de Kock skewed it to the third man’s hand and walked back to the pavilion. Not a start that Lucknow would have thought of as Umesh was all over the Lucknow batters in the powerplay.
Devdutt Padikkal, who came to bat at number three, was the second wicket of Yadav. Umesh bowled a back of a length delivery in the channel nipping away with the angle and Padikkal was enticed into wafting at it. Padikkal got a thick outside edge and Shankar snaffled it up at wide slip, low to his left. Padikkal got out after scoring 7 runs in 7 deliveries.
Lucknow after the end of two overs were reeling on 18 for two as all-rounder Marcus Stoinis joined skipper KL Rahul who was toiling hard on the other end. Rahul struck back-to-back boundaries to Spencer Johnson in his second over and got the pressure relieved from LSG. LSG batters collected thirteen runs in Johnson’s second over and it was the most expensive over in the powerplay. LSG ended on 47 for 2 after the end of the powerplay as Stoinis and Rahul started building the inning.
Titans came with an attacking bowling plan on a damp pitch which saw an uneven bounce right from the start of the match. They bowled on the hard length and kept the ball away from both batters. Rahul, who loves to play cut and drive shots suffered difficulties in scoring against Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad. Mohit Sharma on the other hand mixed his pace well without giving much room to score. It was a good display of bowling from the Titans’ bowlers as LSG after the end of ten overs scored 74 for two with Rahul and Stoinis found difficulties in scoring boundaries.
From 18 for 2 in the third over, the third-wicket pairing of Rahul and Stoinis had bolted together a stocky partnership worth 73 from 62 balls - but LSG's skipper departed trying to take on Darshan Nalkande, brought on at fourth change by Titans. Rahul was looking to hit down the ground but it didn't come on to the bat and he was well held by Rahul Tewatia several yards in from the rope at long-on. A score of 33 off 31, with only three boundaries with a strike rate of 106.45.
It was a big wicket for the Titans’ as the big partnership ended courtesy of a poor shot selection from Rahul. Mohit Sharma and Noor Ahmad for the Titans’ were exceptional with the ball as they made it difficult for LSG to score runs in the middle overs.
Nalkande, bowling his second over of the day, was welcomed with a six and the fourth went the same way with another clean swing across the line by Stoinis who started changing his gear and scored his first IPL 2024 half-century in 40 deliveries.
Nalkande stuck to his guns, however, and made his second breakthrough of the night as Stoinis top-edged a hoick straight up and departed scoring 58 off 43 deliveries. Titans successfully kept a lid on things. It was the second-slowest inning by Stoinis in all the IPL matches in which he has scored 50 or 50 plus.
Noor Ahmed conceded just one boundary from his four overs, which cost 22 runs - he should have had a wicket, too, with Stoinis dropped off a mishit on 43. At the end of 15 overs, LSG were 114 for four and with two new batters in the crease (Nicholas Pooran and Ayush Badoni) it was difficult to reach a good total for LSG. Mohit Sharma conceded 17 runs in his second last over of the spell courtesy of a six by Poorand and back-to-back boundaries by Badoni.
It was Rashid Khan's first wicket of the evening as after hitting two fours from Mohit Sharma in the previous over, Ayush Badoni attempted a slog-sweep but was only able to pick out deep midwicket. However, as Krunal Pandya was off strike, Pooran was able to finally lay a hand on the champion legspinner for the Titans, delivering a huge blow over the leg side. If Sai Sudharsan hadn't done a great job with the long-on rope, he could have also scored another boundary against Rashid. LSG raised their 150 with an over to go.
(With inputs from IANS)
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