Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) continued their climb up the IPL 2024's points table with yet another convincing win, this time against Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on April 7. This victory propelled them to the coveted third position in the points table.
The hero of the match was undoubtedly Yash Thakur, who unleashed a fiery bowling spell and ripped through the Gujarat batting line-up. He claimed a magnificent five-wicket haul, conceding just 30 runs in his 3.5 overs. His scalps included the crucial wicket of Gujarat's captain, Shubman Gill, early in the innings. Yash returned later to dismantle their batting further, dismissing key players like Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, and Noor Ahmed.
Lucknow's bowling attack received excellent support from Krunal Pandya, who displayed exceptional control and economy. He picked up three vital wickets while giving away only 11 runs in his four overs. This disciplined bowling performance from both Yash and Krunal put immense pressure on the Gujarat batsmen, restricting them to a mere 130 runs.
Meanwhile, in other IPL matches played earlier that day, the Mumbai Indians (MI) finally secured their first win of the season, propelling them to the eighth spot in the standings. However, Delhi Capitals continued to struggle, remaining rooted at the bottom of the table with a negative net run rate. Notably, LSG are hot on heels with Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders, who grab the top two spots.
A look at IPL 2024's updated points table after MI vs DC and LSG vs GT's clash:
| Pos | Team | Mat | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
| 1 | Rajasthan Royals | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 | +1.120 |
| 2 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | +2.518 |
| 3 | Lucknow Super Giants | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | +0.775 |
| 4 | Chennai Super Kings | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | +0.517 |
| 5 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | +0.409 |
| 6 | Punjab Kings | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -0.220 |
| 7 | Gujarat Titans | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -0.797 |
| 8 | Mumbai Indians | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | -0.704 |
| 9 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | -0.843 |
| 10 | Delhi Capitals | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | -1.370 |
IPL 2024 Playoffs scenario
The battle for the coveted IPL 2024 playoff spot is heating up. Currently, four teams - Rajasthan Royals (RR), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) - are fiercely competing for the coveted top-four spots. These elite teams will get a shot at ultimate glory in the playoffs.
Here's how the playoffs will unfold:
Qualifier 1: The teams ranked first and second will face off in this match. The winner gets a direct ticket to the final.
Eliminator: This match will feature the teams that finished third and fourth in the league stage. The winner gets another shot at glory.
Qualifier 2: The loser of Qualifier 1 and the winner of the Eliminator will clash in this match. The victor will advance to the final.
The grand finale of IPL 2024 is scheduled for May 26. The winner of Qualifier 2 and the winner of Qualifier 1 will battle it out for the coveted IPL trophy.
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