In the 15th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) edged out Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by 28 runs at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
RCB won the toss and elected to field first. Reece Topley replaced Alzari Joseph in RCB bowling attack, while Lucknow brought in Yash Thakur for Mohsin Khan.
Lucknow openers Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul provided a solid start, stitching together a 53-run partnership. However, the tide turned when Glenn Maxwell dismissed Rahul for 20 runs. Youngster Devdutt Padikkal‘s struggles continued as he was sent back cheaply by Mohammed Siraj. Maxwell then struck again, removing Marcus Stoinis for 24. Despite the setbacks, de Kock continued to bat with authority, scoring a well-made 81 runs off 56 balls. His fifty marked his 22nd in the IPL and a significant milestone – reaching 3,000 IPL runs in just 99 innings.
Anuj Rawat at RCB then dropped Nicholas Pooran when he was on a mere two runs. Pooran capitalized on this opportunity, punishing RCB with an unbeaten knock of 40 runs off just 21 balls. His explosive innings included a hat-trick of sixes in the 19th over and two towering sixes in the 20th. This knock also marked Pooran’s 100th IPL six, achieved in a remarkable 62 innings.
Lucknow finished their innings with a competitive total of 181 runs for the loss of five wickets.
In reply, Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis started the chase positively for RCB. The pair notched up 40 runs in just 4.2 overs before a triple blow rocked their innings. Manimaran Siddharth, claiming his maiden IPL wicket, dismissed Kohli for 22 runs. The very next over saw Faf run out for 19 runs, courtesy of some brilliant fielding by Padikkal. Just three balls later, Mayank Yadav picked up the crucial wicket of Maxwell for a duck. RCB were left reeling at 48/3 by the end of the powerplay overs.
Yadav later dismissed Camron Green for nine runs. Anuj Rawat and Rajat Patidar steadied the ship for RCB with a 35-run stand before Stoinis and Yadav struck again, dismissing Rawat and Patidar respectively. With 78 runs needed off the last 30 balls, Mahipal Lomror fought valiantly, scoring a quickfire 33 runs off 13 balls. However, wickets continued to fall, and eventually, RCB were bowled out for 153, losing the match by 28 runs.
Mayank Yadav’s brilliant bowling spell, with three crucial wickets, earned him the Player of the Match award.
Lucknow secured their second win of the season and climbed to fourth position on the points table, while RCB slumped to ninth after suffering their third defeat.
Scorecard:
Lucknow Super Giants: 181/5, Overs 20, Quinton de Kock 81 (56), Glenn Maxwell 2/23
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 153, Overs 19.4, Mahipal Lomror 33 (13), Mayank Yadav 3/14