Punjab Kings (PBKS) kept up their unstoppable momentum in IPL 2026, defeating Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 54 runs in match 29 at Mullanpur.
Being put into bat and despite losing the in-form opener Prabhsimran Singh for a golden duck to Mohammad Shami, PBKS put up one of the most lethal partnerships in IPL history. Priyansh Arya was the prime aggressor, scoring 93 off 37 balls, which included nine sixes at a strike rate of 251.35. He was wonderfully helped by Australian sensation Cooper Connolly, who hit 87 off 46 deliveries. The pair put up an incredible 182-run partnership for the second wicket, at one stage scoring 32 runs off a single Aiden Markram over. Marcus Stoinis (29) and Shashank Singh (17) scored late runs to put the total above 250.
Chasing 255, LSG tried out a fresh opening combination of Ayush Badoni (35) and Mitchell Marsh (40). The start was encouraging, but the required run rate of 12.75 posed psychological challenges. Skipper Rishabh Pant (43) provided some hope with a trademark exciting knock, but his dismissal to Arshdeep Singh in the 13th over effectively finished the match. Markram (42) and Mukul Choudhary (21*) boosted the score, but LSG concluded on 200/5, considerably short of the target.
Defending a big score, the PBKS bowlers relied on wide yorkers and slower variations to exploit the larger boundaries. Marco Jansen was the best of the seamers, ending with 2/37. Yuzvendra Chahal looked helpless, and Vijaykumar Vyshak supplied the mid-innings squeeze, yet both claimed one wicket each. Additionally, Vyshak’s deceptive slower balls are proving especially tough to read.
On the other hand, LSG’s bowling unit had a punishing evening. Following Shami’s early breakthrough (1/56), the attack entirely lost its radar beneath the Priyansh-Connolly onslaught. Avesh Khan was wicketless, while Markram’s lone over for 32 runs was a tactical failure. The only bright spots were youthful Prince Yadav (2/25 in 4 overs) and Manimaran Siddharth (2/35), who took late wickets to keep PBKS from scoring a possibly record 275+ score.
With 11 points now, PBKS extend their lead in the standings by three.
Scorecard:
Punjab Kings: 254/7, Overs 20, Priyanh Arya 93, Prince Yadav 2/25
Lucknow Super Giants: 200/5, Overs 20, Rishabh Pant 43, Marco Jansen 2/37
