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Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) rode on Shardul Thakur's bowling blitz coupled with Nicholas Pooran's carnage-filled knock to thrash high-flying Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by five wickets to record their first win of the IPL 2025 and recover from the heartbreaking loss against DC in their previous encounter.
LSG gun down SRH by 5 wickets
SRH posted a competitive total of 190/9 despite Shardul Thakur's fantastic four-fer. In reply, Nicholas Pooran's lightning 26-ball 70 ensured LSG chase down the target in just 16.1 overs.
The Lucknow Super Giants had a shaky start to their chase, as Mohammed Shami struck early, dismissing opener Aiden Markram for just a single run. This left LSG in a precarious position at 4 runs for the loss of 1 wicket in just 1.3 overs.
However, Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran then joined forces, and the momentum quickly shifted. Vice-captain Pooran unleashed his aggressive batting prowess, particularly targeting Simarjeet Singh, whom he hammered for two towering sixes and a boundary. Continuing the onslaught in the very next over, Marsh took charge against Shami, plundering 18 runs with two sixes and a four.
Thanks to a boundary from Marsh through mid-on, LSG reached the 50-run mark in just 4.2 overs. The over bowled by Abhishek Sharma ended on a sour note for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, as Pooran smashed two consecutive sixes. By the end of the powerplay's six overs, LSG had raced to 77 runs for the loss of just one wicket, with Pooran looking dangerous on 44 not out and Marsh providing solid support on 25 not out. Pooran then reached his second consecutive half-century in the IPL in a blistering 25 balls, his innings so far featuring four boundaries and five massive sixes. The over bowled by Adam Zampa proved expensive for SRH, yielding 19 runs, including two more sixes and a four courtesy of Pooran's powerful hitting.
A well-placed boundary from Mitchell Marsh helped LSG cruise past the 100-run mark in just 7.3 overs. However, SRH skipper Pat Cummins finally managed to break the dangerous partnership, dismissing Nicholas Pooran for a blistering 70 off just 26 balls, an innings studded with six fours and six massive sixes. This ended a rapid 116-run stand between Pooran and Marsh that came in a mere 43 deliveries, leaving LSG at 120 for 2 in 8.4 overs. At the halfway stage of 10 overs, LSG had progressed to 129 for 2, with Marsh nearing his half-century on 44 not out and skipper Rishabh Pant having just joined him at the crease on 2 not out. Marsh then continued his aggressive approach, hitting Cummins for two consecutive boundaries, which also brought up his well-deserved half-century in 29 balls, including seven fours and two sixes. However, Cummins had the last laugh, getting his revenge by dismissing Marsh for a well-played 52 off 31 balls, leaving LSG at 138 for 3 in 10.5 overs.
Just when it seemed LSG was cruising, they suffered a mini-collapse, losing Ayush Badoni for 6 and skipper Rishabh Pant for 15 in quick succession. This brought SRH back into the game, with LSG suddenly at 164 for 5 in 14.1 overs, threatening a potential resurgence from the home team.
However, Abdul Samad, coming in to bat against his former team, played a quick and impactful cameo. His aggressive hitting guided the Lucknow Super Giants to a comfortable victory by five wickets. LSG eventually reached the target, finishing at 193 for 5 in just 16.1 overs, with Miller unbeaten on 13 off seven balls (including two fours) and Samad not out on a quickfire 22 off eight balls (comprising two fours and two sixes). For Sunrisers Hyderabad, skipper Pat Cummins was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2 wickets for 29 runs, while Zampa, Harshal, and Shami each managed to pick up one wicket.
Shardul Thakur tames hard-hitting SRH batters with fiery four-fer
Earlier, After going unsold in the IPL2024 mega auction, Shardul Thakur put on a fantastic show against the formidable SRH. His impressive haul of four wickets was instrumental in keeping SRH to a total of 190 for 9 in their innings.
Thakur's final bowling figures were a superb 4 wickets for 34 runs across his four overs, and he delivered crucial breakthroughs for LSG at critical junctures in the game. He made an early impact by breaking SRH's opening partnership, sending Abhishek Sharma back to the pavilion for a mere 6 runs. The right-arm seamer then really put LSG in a commanding position by taking two wickets in consecutive deliveries, dismissing the in-form Ishan Kishan for a duck. Kishan, who had just scored a brilliant century in his previous match against Rajasthan Royals, became a victim of Thakur's pace, leaving SRH struggling at 15 for 2.
Even after those early setbacks, Travis Head and Nitish Kumar Reddy showed resilience and steadied the Sunrisers Hyderabad innings with a valuable 61-run partnership. Head, who looked comfortable at the crease, was eventually dismissed for 47 by debutant Prince Yadav. Heinrich Klaasen then played an aggressive innings, but his knock was cut short by an excellent piece of fielding from Yadav, resulting in a run-out.
Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was playing a crucial role in holding the SRH innings together, was then clean bowled by the Lucknow Super Giants' leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi for 32.
Just when it looked like SRH might falter, Aniket Verma provided a much-needed spark with a sensational cameo. He smashed five sixes in a quickfire 36-run innings off just 13 balls before being dismissed by Digvesh Rathi. Verma's explosive hitting propelled SRH to 156/6. Abhinav Manohar couldn't contribute significantly, falling for just two runs as Shardul Thakur claimed his third wicket of the match. However, SRH captain Pat Cummins injected some late impetus into the innings with a counter-attacking display, hitting three consecutive sixes off his first three balls. His aggressive approach, though brief, saw him dismissed by Avesh Khan for 18 runs off just four deliveries. Shardul Thakur then wrapped up his impressive spell by taking the wicket of Mohammed Shami, also marking his milestone of 100 wickets in the IPL. Notably, every bowler for the Lucknow Super Giants managed to contribute with at least one wicket in the innings.
LSG will now take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their next IPL clash on April 1 while SRH will lock horns with Delhi Capitals (DC) on March 30.
