Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pulled off a nail-biting win over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), who suffered their second successive defeat in IPL 2023 in a last-over thriller in Bangalore. The host reached a commanding total of 212 in their first innings, thanks to half-centuries from Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell. But Marcus Stonis and Nicholas Pooran’s heroics saw LSG chase it down on the last ball of the game.
Earlier, in the game, it was local hero KL Rahul who won the toss and opted to field first on a belter of a batting wicket in Chinnaswamy. However, his decision backfired as RCB openers, Faf and Virat Kohli managed to score 56 runs in the powerplay overs with the latter scoring most of the runs.
After the dismissal of Kohli in the 12th over, Glenn Maxwell joined Faf du Plessis and decided to go hammer and tongs as they started smashing the LSG bowlers all over the park to help RCB reach a humongous total of 212. Both Faf and Maxwell put on an incredible second partnership as RCB milked a staggering 108 runs in the last seven overs of the first innings.
WATCH – Faf du Plessis Smashes A 115m Six, Leaves Glenn Maxwell Awestruck
Chasing a daunting target, LSG witnessed the dismissal of hard-hitting opener Kyle Mayers in the very first over. It got progressively worse for the tourists as Deepak Hooda and Krunal Pandya were dismissed by Wayne Parnell in the 4th over. LSG was in sorts of trouble with skipper KL Rahul was joined by Marcus Stoinis, who smashed 65 runs in just 30 deliveries.
The visitors were in the driver’s seat before the hosts came back in the game with the wickets of Stonis and Rahul in quick succession to derail the LSG chase. But LSG’s star wicket-keeper-batter Nicholas Pooran had different plans as he came out all guns blazing. Pooran smashed the fastest fifty of the season off just 15 balls to deflate the RCB bowlers. However, the match was headed towards a tense finale after Pooran was dismissed by the returning Mohammed Siraj in the 17th over of the chase.
WATCH – Ayush Badoni Hits A Six, But Gets Out Hit Wicket
As wickets fell at the death, RCB thought they had a chance. Harshal Patel, bowling the last over got Mark Wood out first and then Ravi Bishnoi got three runs off the next two balls. When Unadkat holed out with LSG needing 1 off two, RCB still had a chance to survive. Harshal tried to run out the batter at the non-striker’s end, failed, and then Dinesh Karthik fumbled to allow LSG a bye.
Here is the video of the winning moments:
Gambhir owns that Bratt chokli pic.twitter.com/IXfFTdktCT
— Sameer💤 (@catchsameer05) April 10, 2023
— Scorpion🇮🇳⁴⁵ (@GaneshBirje) April 10, 2023
Here is how the cricketing fraternity reacted to the game:
Ladies & gentlemen, this is how you…𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘 𝐁𝐎𝐋𝐃 😌
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) April 10, 2023
उद्या पूरन ला माझा कडून पूरणपोळ्या !! #RCBvsLSG #AJioMatchCentreLive #TATAIPL2023
— Dhawal Kulkarni (@dhawal_kulkarni) April 10, 2023
Oh my gosh. What a game!!! #TATAIPL2023
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) April 10, 2023
My heart need some rest… #LSGvRCB
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 10, 2023
This game confirms everything we have been talking about strike rates. Kohli 61(44), eventual SR of 139 but got 16(15) at the end. Du Plessis 79(46) eventual SR of 172 but was 33(30). Those balls don't come back. And #RCB were short in the end. It is not about the eventual SR.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 10, 2023
What a game of cricket! Just outstanding from @nicholas_47 and @LucknowIPL! Great chase 👏🏾 #RCBvLSG
— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) April 10, 2023
Ufff…crazy game. Harshal Patel and Dinesh Karthik missing out on run-outs of the last ball but a game of thin margins. Pooran was special. Two great games in 2 nights at the IPL. #RCBvsLSG
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) April 10, 2023
