Former Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad did not refrain from criticising KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for an unimpressive performance with the bat. Prasad was not impressed with LSG batters converting an easy run chase into a last-over thriller which they eventually lost by seven runs at their homeground Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow.
“Bottling a run chase when 30 needed of 35 balls with 9 wickets in hand requires some baffling batting. Happened with Punjab (Kings) in 2020 on few ocassions losing games they should have won easily. As brilliant as Guj (Gujarat Titans) were with ball & Hardik smart with his captaincy, brainless from Lko (KL Rahul),” Prasad wrote in his tweet.
In the last 45 deliveries, not a single boundary was scored as GT bowlers made Rahul and the other batters nervous in slog overs. Rahul got to his half-century from 38 deliveries in the 13th over. LSG needed 38 runs from 42 balls. After Krunal Pandya's wicket in the 15th over, LSG were still favourites to win as they needed 30 runs from 33 balls.
Nicholas Pooran struggled to rotate the strike, let alone find a boundary. Set batter Rahul slowed down as well and could not find a boundary. GT bowlers tightened the screws in the slog overs. In the last over, they needed 12 runs to win. Rahul went for a big shot but got caught at deep square leg. Rahul scored 68 runs from 61 balls at a strike rate of 111.48.
“I don't know how it happened, but it has happened. I can't put a finger on where it went wrong, but we lost 2 points today, this is cricket. I thought we were brilliant with the ball, 135 was 10 runs under par, the bowling was exceptional, we started well with the bat, but these things happen, we'll have to take it on the chin. But still a long way to go, 8 points off 7 games, we were on the wrong side of the result today,” a disappointed Rahul said in a post-match presentation.
“We were well ahead in the game and I wasn't really trying to bat deep, I still wanted to play my shots, take on the bowlers, but they bowled well in that 2-3 over period, by Noor and Jayant, we perhaps should have taken a few more chances with wickets in hand, they bowled decently, but I think we missed out on some boundary opportunities, the pressure got to us in the last 3-4 overs, we played well until then. They did bowl well though,” he added.
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