IPL 2022: Lucknow Super Giants defeat Punjab Kings by 20 runs

Lucknow Super Giant beat Punjab King by 20 runs in their sixth IPL 2022 encounter on Friday, April 29, at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) took down the Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 20 runs thanks to an outstanding last over from Avesh Khan. Bowlers Dushmantha Chameera, Moshin Khan, and Krunal Pandya all played a role in the victory with their excellent performances.

Sri Lankan fast bowlers Chameera, Khan, and Pandya, claimed seven wickets between them as Punjab's batting order crumbled to just 133 for eight in their 20 overs against Lucknow.

PBKS had won the toss and elected to field first, and they made no alterations to their starting XI following that decision. However, LSG made just one alteration to the team, with bowler Avesh Khan replacing the batter, Manish Pandey.

PBKS vs. LSG match highlights

Chameera dismissed Punjab captain Mayank Agarwal for 25 and Shikhar Dhawan at five after he had started the game with a flurry. Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone attempted to put together an effort, but the Lucknow bowling assault proved too much. Khan dismissed Livingstone for 18 off 16 balls after Bairstow hit five fours in his 32-run innings. Rishi Dhawan (21, not out) couldn't muster any help from the other end despite his best efforts.

For 11 runs, spinner Pandya collected two important wickets of Jitesh Sharma and Bhanuka Rajapaksa, while Ravi Bishnoi took one. With 26 runs in three overs, Avesh Khan returned with a score of 10 runs in the final over.

During the third over of the match, Kagiso Rabada had KL Rahul removed on the 5th ball of the third over, and he finished up giving 6 runs off 11 balls. The LSG bats responded with 3, 16, and 7 runs in the next three overs, putting them at 39/1 at the end of the powerplay.

After losing skipper KL Rahul (6) in the third over, Lucknow openers Quinton de Kock and Deepak Hooda put on an 85-run stand off 59 balls before being bowled by Sandeep Sharma on the fourth ball of the 13th over. Rabada ripped through the batting lineup, taking four wickets for 38 runs before De Kock smashed 46 off 37 balls with four fours and two sixes. Punjab bowler Rahul Chahar took two wickets to reduce Lucknow to 153 for eight.

The aftermath

After a shaky start with the wicket following the early dismissal of KL Rahul, LSG attempted a comeback with De Kock and Hooda. LSG's dreams of a huge score were dashed as they quickly lost five wickets to reach 144/8 in 18.3 overs, their lowest total in the game.

Hooda, Pandya, and Ayush Badoni, PBKS was relieved of their duties to aid in their remarkable comeback. Sandeep Sharma removed De Kock, Hooda was run out, and Krunal was caught by Arshdeep Singh. Holder and Stoinis both left the game after promising starts in goal.

Indian Premier League 2022 sixth match was concluded with a victory for the Lucknow Super Giants, whose bowlers dominated throughout the game.

Agarwal, Punjab captain slammed the batsmen for Punjab's setback, blaming them for the loss. In his opinion, their wickets were falling at an alarming rate.

“Obviously it’s disappointing. We need to face the truth that we didn’t bat well today. It should have been chased down but we were below par with bat.” he said.