Pursuing a modified DLS target of 213 in a weather-affected encounter, Royal Challengers Bengaluru managed only 203/6, giving last-placed Lucknow Super Giants an exciting nine-run triumph on Thursday. Prince Yadav (3/33) and Shahbaz Ahmed (2/33) were the pick of the bowlers for LSG, while captain Rajat Patidar led RCB’s scoring with an impressive 61 from 31 deliveries. Several rain delays resulted in the game being shortened to 19 overs each side. Previously, after being asked to bat first, Mitchell Marsh delivered an outstanding innings of 111 from 56 balls to end LSG’s six-game losing run. This victory keeps LSG alive in the playoff contention. LSG Seals Narrow Victory Over RCB with Marsh’s Hundred.
TOSS-
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the coin toss and decided to bowl first.
PLAYING XI –
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI):
Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam Dar, Josh Hazlewood
Lucknow Super Giants (Playing XI):
Mitchell Marsh, Arshin Kulkarni, Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Akshat Raghuwanshi, Himmat Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Mohammed Shami, Prince Yadav
LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS-
Two powerful straight sixes over the bowler’s head – separated by a brief rain interruption – marked how Mitchell Marsh welcomed his Australian teammate Josh Hazlewood in the second over. His opening companion, 21-year-old Arshin Kulkarni, almost offered a simple return catch to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was featuring in his 200th IPL match, and needed time to find his rhythm.
In contrast, Marsh displayed excellent form, launching a Bhuvneshwar delivery over cover for six before finding a four and another maximum off Krunal Pandya in the fourth over. Rasikh Dar Salam was dismissed with authority by Marsh, who also cleared long-on for six despite a brave attempt from substitute fielder Jordan Cox. When Hazlewood finished his second over, concluding the Powerplay, Marsh had reached his fifty in just 20 balls as LSG posted 68 for 0 after six overs – their best PP total in Lucknow this season.
Marsh dispatched a short ball from Suyash Sharma for six, while Kulkarni registered his first boundary with a delicate late cut. The Australian T20 leader also collected two more boundaries off Krunal and Suyash before the players departed once more – this time for an extended period – due to another rain shower. LSG had surged to 95 for 0 at that stage, with Marsh contributing 76 of those runs in merely 32 deliveries. Following a break exceeding 30 minutes, play continued with no reduction in overs.
Kulkarni’s difficulties concluded shortly after the restart, bringing Nicholas Pooran to bat, who immediately struck two boundaries off Rasikh. Marsh resumed his dominance, smashing six off Krunal as he approached the 90s. Two boundaries off Romario Shepherd enabled Marsh to complete a 49-ball century – his second IPL hundred – followed by another six before rain returned and covers reappeared, with LSG at 145/1 after 14 overs.
Following another 30-plus minute interruption, action resumed – now with one over deducted. Marsh, who found a four off Rasikh, was dropped by Devdutt Padikkal off Bhuvneshwar, while Pooran struck six in the same over. Marsh’s magnificent innings finally concluded when he was caught at deep point off Hazlewood. Rishabh Pant contributed a couple of fours and a six in Hazlewood’s over. Compounding RCB’s troubles, Jacob Bethell departed after injuring his finger attempting a catch. The dropped catches persisted as Krunal spilled a difficult opportunity in Bhuvneshwar’s over, giving Pooran a reprieve, before successfully holding onto one off Rasikh to dismiss Pooran. Pant delivered an explosive finish, striking two fours and a six to propel LSG to an imposing total.
ROYAL CHALLENGERS BENGALURU-
RCB’s beginning contrasted sharply with LSG, as the home team’s pace attack delivered immediate strikes that stunned the batting lineup. Mohammed Shami, predictably, claimed a wicket in the opening over, with Prince Yadav compensating for an earlier fumble by taking an excellent catch to remove Bethell. Prince then bowled a superb inswinger to demolish the stumps and dismiss Virat Kohli for a golden duck. The surface appeared completely transformed with the ball swinging considerably and frequently beating the bat. Padikkal, however, played some elegant strokes – a stylish pull for six off Prince and a cover boundary off Shami. Rajat Patidar also collected a few boundaries, but it was a relatively quiet powerplay of 5.4 overs for RCB, yielding only 40 runs.
After managing a run-a-ball 14, Patidar accelerated once spin was introduced, striking a six and a four off Digvesh Rathi to complete the fifty partnership in the seventh over. The RCB skipper was troubled by short balls from Mayank Yadav before launching six over midwicket. Two additional sixes off Digvesh continued as Patidar maintained his assault on both spin and pace, reaching a 26-ball fifty with a massive six off Mayank, then striking big again to bring up the 100 in the 10th over. The stand, however, concluded at 95 when Padikkal offered a simple catch back to Prince. Jitesh Sharma departed shortly afterward, falling to Prince while Shahbaz Ahmed claimed the crucial wicket of Patidar, with Markram pouching a fine catch at long-off as RCB, from 104 for 2, tumbled to 112 for 5.
RCB required 91 from the final six overs, with the asking rate climbing beyond 15. The equation reduced to 63 from the last four overs as Tim David delivered some vital boundaries, including two sixes and a four off Mayank in the 15th over. However, LSG regained control as Shahbaz removed David after being struck for six, with Digvesh holding a sharp catch at point. A couple of boundaries for Shepherd in the same over reduced the target to 47 from three overs. Mohammed Shami conceded two sixes to Krunal and Prince leaked 13 runs, including a six for Shepherd, bringing it down to 20 from the final over. But Digvesh maintained his composure and kept the ball away from Shepherd’s hitting zones, concluding LSG’s losing streak.
Brief scores:
Lucknow Super Giants 209/3 in 19 overs [Mitchell Marsh 111 (56), Nicholas Pooran 38 (23), Rishabh Pant 32* (10); Krunal Pandya 1-31] defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru 203/6 in 19 overs [Rajat Patidar 61 (31), Tim David 40 (17); Prince Yadav 3-33) by 9 runs (DLS method).
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