The Punjab Kings (PBKS) defeated the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by two wickets in yesterday’s Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 match at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
Punjab, who bowled first after winning the toss, held Lucknow on 159/8 while reserve skipper Sam Curran starred at 3/31. Sikandar Raza then hit a brilliant half-century before a cameo from Shahrukh Khan (23* from 10) led PBKS to victory in 19.3 overs.
PBKS got off to a bad start in the chase as Yudhvir Singh Charak won the debutants’ battle after Atharva Taide (0) caught the third man in the first over. Matthew Short beat Avesh Khan with three fours in the second over but Charak knocked out Prabhsimran Singh (4).
Matthew Short’s impressive shot ended on 34/22 when he hit Krishnappa Gowtham in the middle. Harpreet Singh (22) dragged Krunal Pandya to a deep back square leg to put Punjab in more trouble. However, Raza played fantastic innings to keep PBKS on the hunt.
After lofting Gowtham for a maximum via long-off, he took on Krunal, beating him for two sixes and a four in the 13th over. He made his first IPL with 50 from 34 but was dismissed in the 18th over with 57 from 41 after being caught on a deep back square leg by Ravi Bishnoi’s bowling.
The equation came down to 20 from the last two overs. Shahrukh smashed Mark Wood’s second delivery over the keeper’s head with a maximum. Harpreet Brar (6) then sent a four through for offside before being restrained.
Shahrukh hit the winning line in the final over, knocking Bishnoi wide.
LSG held at 159/8 despite KL Rahul’s 74
Lucknow skipper KL Rahul scored the highest for his team with 74 balls from 56, but the Punjab bowlers collectively limited the opposition to under 160.
Rahul and Kyle Mayers (29 of 23) added 53 for the first wicket. But once the stand broke, LSG lost its way, even with Rahul holding up one end.
Deepak Hooda (2) was caught by a skidder by Raza lbw. Krunal (18) was brilliantly held on the ropes by Shahrukh at Rabada’s bowling. Nicholas Pooran (0) got a catch-behind decision that was flipped to a wide but fell right on the next ball, mistaking Rabada for a deep midwicket. Marcus Stoinis was caught behind Curran by skillful use of the DRS for 15/11.
Lucknow’s hopes of a good total took a serious hit when Rahul holed out against Arshdeep Singh. Curran helped himself to two wickets in the last over, which produced just seven.
LSG vs PBKS: Who became Player of the Match in yesterday’s IPL 2023 game?
Substitute captain Curran impressed for PBKS with three wickets while Rabada also came on with two crucial scalps. Raza put in a good all-around performance, claiming a wicket and scoring a half-century of strokes.
Shahrukh also had a memorable outing. He made a couple of excellent catches and rounded out the game with a match-winning cameo.
For LSG, skipper Rahul contributed a brave half-century while Charak, Wood and Bishnoi each claimed two wickets.
Raza was named player of the match for his good all-around performance.
