In a thrilling contest, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 12 runs at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Mumbai on Monday.
Chasing 170, the Sunrisers lost the openers inside the powerplay, with Avesh Khan claiming both the wickets. While captain Kane Williamson was dismissed at 16, Abhishek Sharma was removed at 13. Then, Rahul Tripathi and Aiden Markram tried to calm things down.
The duo added 44 runs for the third wicket before Krunal Pandya sent back Markram (12) in the 11th over to provide a much-needed breakthrough for his team. Pandya didn’t just stop there as he soon dismissed set batter Tripathi, who fell just six short of what could be a game-changing half-century.
Despite being reduced to 95/4, Nicholas Pooran kept Sunrisers’ hopes alive and formed another important partnership to take the game deep. The West Indies power-hitter smacked 34 off 24 balls with the help of three fours and a couple of sixes before Avesh removed him in the 18th over. The right-armer brought back Lucknow in the game as on the very next delivery, he dismissed Abdul Samad for a duck.
However, the contest went down to the wire, where eventually Lucknow restricted Sunrisers at 157/9 in 20 overs to win the contest by 12 runs.
Earlier, captain KL Rahul and all-rounder Deepak Hooda smashed remarkable half-centuries to give Lucknow a respectable total against SRH, especially after a stuttering start when they had lost three wickets for just 27 in 4.5 overs.
The duo of Rahul and Hooda, then, formed a crucial partnership that steadied the innings of Lucknow. Both players batted quite sensibly and didn’t allow the run rate to dip. The pair stitched a vital stand of 87 runs for the fourth wicket to take the team’s total to 114 in 15 overs before Romario Shepherd dismissed Hooda to break the partnership. Hooda scored 51 from 33 deliveries with the help of three fours and as many sixes.
Rahul, on the other hand, kept on tickling the scoreboard to continue the run flow. The skipper added 30 runs for the fifth wicket before trapping in front off T Natarajan for a well-made 68 off 50 balls, including seven boundaries. Youngster Ayush Badoni chipped in with valuable 19 off 12 to take Lucknow to 169/7 in their assigned 20 overs.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
The BIG man from west indies @Jaseholder98 takes another one and rounds his tally up to 2.
Its looking good for us.#AbApniBaariHai #bhaukaalmachadenge#IPL2022 🏆 #LucknowSuperGiants #T20 #TataIPL #Lucknow #UttarPradesh #LSG2022 pic.twitter.com/j2MwPu3l8D— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) April 4, 2022
They were 27 for 3 and from that position they won the game. Lucknow played super and giant cricket! #LSGvSRH
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 4, 2022
This is pretty much the best team that #SRH can put on the park. And so, for them to have an impact in this year’s #TATAIPL, it is these very players that will have to step up. It is going to be a big test for the team management.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 4, 2022
Deepak Hooda with yet another top knock! Delivered again when his team needed him to step up. Kept bailing Rajasthan out of trouble in the SMAT20 season like this and doing it here in the IPL for Lucknow now. The India call up has only increased his confidence. #SRHvLSG
— Prasenjit Dey (@CricPrasen) April 4, 2022
LSG pip SRH in a thrilling contest.#SRHvLSG #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/uIImm7h9iT
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) April 4, 2022
#AveshKhan – The game-breaker of the match. And bowled the game-breaking over 👏
The value of hard length and some bowling smarts in the slog.#IPL2022
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) April 4, 2022
DEEPAK HOODA attacking UMRAN MALIK every ball, a treat to watch 🇮🇳🔥@HoodaOnFire #SRHvLSG #SRHvsLSG #IPL2022
— Sushant Mehta (@SushantNMehta) April 4, 2022
KL Rahul completed his 50th fifty in T20 format – one of the most consistent run getter in this format.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) April 4, 2022
KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda has been the backbone of Lucknow.
terrific from both of them,saved lucknow from a collapse. pic.twitter.com/FoP3MUSp0S— Akshat (@AkshatOM10) April 4, 2022
KL Rahul dominating the batting department even as a captain in the IPL. pic.twitter.com/0OSAjCYlvu
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 4, 2022
Deepak Hooda. Unbelievable mental strength. Unbelievable range with the bat as well.
— Kaushik (@CricKaushik_) April 4, 2022