Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) defended a total of 163 successfully against Gujarat Titans, with Yash Thakur claiming a stellar 5-wicket haul (5-30) and Krunal Pandya contributing with figures of 3-11. This victory propelled LSG to the third position on the points table, marking their third consecutive win and their first-ever triumph against Gujarat Titans.

Umesh rocks LSG

In the initial overs, LSG lost two crucial top-order wickets within the powerplay, setting them back for the rest of the innings after winning the toss. Umesh Yadav's impressive performance saw him first dismissing Quinton de Kock caught in the deep, followed by Devdutt Padikkal's wicket, caught at slip by Vijay Shankar. This early setback put LSG under pressure at 18/2.

Rahul, Stoinis dig in

Facing a challenging pitch, KL Rahul and Marcus Stoinis adopted a cautious approach, focusing on building a partnership through the middle overs. They added 73 runs in 62 balls, attempting to provide LSG with a platform to accelerate. However, both batsmen fell prey to Darshan Nalkande's bowling, hampering LSG's progress.

Pooran delivers again

Nicholas Pooran played a crucial role in the final overs, guiding LSG to a competitive total with a quickfire 32 off 22 balls, including three sixes. His contribution ensured that LSG crossed the 150-run mark, providing them with a defendable total on a challenging surface.

Gujarat get a blazing start

Gujarat Titans got off to a flying start in the powerplay, with Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill accumulating 54 runs within the first six overs. Despite Mayank Yadav conceding boundaries, the Titans capitalized on the absence of Wriddhiman Saha due to injury, setting a strong foundation for their chase.

Krunal and Co. gain a stranglehold

LSG's bowlers, led by Krunal Pandya and Ravi Bishnoi, tightened the screws on the Titans during the middle overs. Bishnoi claimed crucial wickets, including Kane Williamson, while Pandya's disciplined bowling yielded three wickets, pegging back the Titans' progress significantly.

Thakur nails the final blows

Yash Thakur delivered the final blows for LSG, claiming a double-wicket maiden and ultimately securing a five-wicket haul, the first of IPL 2024. His remarkable spell ensured Gujarat Titans fell short of the target, handing LSG their third win of the season.

What's next?

Gujarat Titans will travel to Jaipur to face the unbeaten Rajasthan Royals on April 10, while Lucknow Super Giants will have a four-day gap before their clash against Delhi Capitals on April 12.

Brief Scores: Lucknow Super Giants 163/5 in 20 overs (Marcus Stoinis 58) beat Gujarat Titans 130 in 18.5 overs (Yash Thakur 5-30, Krunal Pandya 3-11) by 33 runs