Toby Marshall
Lucknow Super Giants put on a stunning power-hitting display led by Marcus Stoinis and Kyle Mayers, leading them to a 56-run victory over Punjab Kings in a high-scoring IPL match on Friday. With Stoinis smashing 72 off 40 balls and Mayers contributing 54 off 24, the Lucknow Super Giants set a massive target of 257 for five against a weak Punjab Kings bowling attack.
Despite scoring at a decent rate, Punjab Kings fell behind the required run rate and ended up with 201 in 19.5 overs. Atharava Taide played well for his maiden half-century in IPL, scoring 66 off 36 balls, but the likes of Liam Livingstone (36 off 22) and Sikandar Raza (23 off 14) couldn’t stay long enough to mount a comeback.
Skipper Shikhar Dhawan’s return was short-lived as he lasted only two balls. The most successful bowler was young pacer Yash Thakur, who took 4/37 in four overs. The win marked the Lucknow Super Giants’ fifth victory in eight matches, while Punjab Kings suffered their fourth loss in eight games.
Utilizing the flat pitch in Mohali, Kyle Mayers dominated Arshdeep Singh and Kagiso Rabada, smashing a half-century in just 20 balls within the PowerPlay. Although KL Rahul was dropped on the first ball, he failed to capitalize on the opportunity and was dismissed in the fourth over for only 12 runs. However, Mayers’ exceptional performance helped LSG reach 74/2 by the end of the PowerPlay. Despite being dismissed by Rabada in the sixth over, Mayers had done his job at the top of the order with a score of 54 off 24 balls.
LSG continued their ascent as Ayush Badoni came in at No.3 and hit a four and a six alongside Stoinis. Even the experienced Sam Curran couldn’t halt their progress, as the duo added 50 off just 24 balls. While Chahar was effective in keeping the runs down, the other bowlers were struggling.
LSG reached 184 for 4 as Arshdeep returned and conceded 9 runs in the 15th over. By the end of the 16th over, they had reached the 200 mark with still four overs left to play. Even one of the finest death bowlers in the tournament, Arshdeep, was unable to stop them and conceded 16 runs in the 17th over. Rabada finished with figures of 2 for 52, ending his nightmare return to the playing XI. LSG posted an incredible 257/5 on the board, which is the second-highest total in the history of the IPL.
Atharava Taide showed great resilience while batting at No. 3 for PBKS after Shikhar Dhawan’s early departure in the first over. He scored 31 of the team’s first 47 runs, hitting five fours.
Taide reached his fifty from just 26 deliveries but unfortunately, PBKS’ required run rate was already dauntingly high by then. Despite some valiant efforts from Livingstone, Curran, and Jitesh Sharma, PBKS couldn’t chase down the target. The match witnessed a total of 67 boundaries, which is the joint second-most in an IPL game.
Injuries are a cruel part of any game, they destroy careers and they can hamper the momentum of any side. At times it can be just at the wrong time, as in Shaheen Shah Afridi getting injured late in the most crucial game of his cricketing journey. For others, it can be a long haul of patience and regret as they see their side underperforming while not being able to help.
In their final league game of IPL 2023, Chennai Super Kings secured a convincing 77-run victory against Delhi Capitals at Delhi, solidifying their place in the playoffs.
