Yash Thakur’s 5-Wicket Haul Secures Historic Win for Lucknow Super Giants
Spinners, Yash Thakur Defend 163 to Secure Lucknow Super Giants’ Historic Win Against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024.
Titans lost eight wickets for just 48 runs after appearing to be on track in the chase at one point.
Gujarat Titans 130 all out (Sudharsan 31, Thakur 5-30, Krunal 3-11) lost to Lucknow Super Giants 163 for 5 (Stoinis 58, Umesh 2-22) by 33 runs.
With a valiant 163-run defense in Lucknow, the Lucknow Super Giants won their third game in a row and their first over the Gujarat Titans in five attempts. The home team had elected to bat first, and although the Titans got off to a strong start in their hunt for runs, Marcus Stoinis’ first half-century of the season supplied the necessary support. However, Yash Thakur claimed a maiden five-for to help destroy the innings.
After Umesh Yadav had struck twice with the new ball, captain KL Rahul and Stoinis chose accumulation over fluidity in the LSG batting attempt. Both failed to raise the stakes, and it took Ayush Badoni’s appearance and Nicholas Pooran’s power bursts to lift them to an acceptable score.
The fact that LSG had never lost when defending a target of 160 or more worked in their favor. After sprinting to 54 points without a loss during the powerplay, the Titans appeared poised to challenge that record, but an incredible 8 for 48 collapse made it 13 from 13 for LSG instead. The spark came from Ravi Bishnoi’s sensational caught-and-bowled dismissal of Kane Williamson after Yash nicked one past Shubman Gill. The Titans collapsed as Krunal Pandya quickly finished his four overs at 3 for 11.
The fact that LSG’s new pace sensation, Mayank Yadav, left the field after only one over owing to a side strain made their command of a comfortable defence all the more impressive. Rahul’s team moved up to third place in the standings with six points.
Titans Stumbles After A Strong start
Titans eased out of the starting blocks with a fifty opening stand within the powerplay, chasing what appeared to be a middling target. While Shubman Gill tried to play himself in, Sai Sudharsan showed off his poise and wrists by hitting four early boundaries, including two off Mayank in his lone over, in which the LSG fast man barely broke 140 kph. Titans appeared to be winning with Mayank needing to leave the field and M Siddharth having trouble with front-foot no-balls.
But the remarkable collapse began with the dismissal of Gill off the last ball of the sixth over. After Krunal completed a clean over, Ravi Bishnoi made a wonderful one-handed return catch off Titans impact substitute Kane Williamson with his second ball.
The first ball of Krunal’s second over saw Sudharsan hole out to deep square leg, and BR Sharath top-edge a sweep to deep backward square. After losing four wickets for seven runs in the span of eighteen balls, Titans found themselves completely out of luck.
Thakur’s Remarkable 5 Wicket Haul
The Titans never made a comeback. As the asking rate increased to 12 an over, Krunal took a third wicket. However, the shrewd Yash came back to dismiss Rashid Khan and Vijay Shankar in the space of four deliveries, leaving the score at 93 for 7. The sole chance of an upset came from Rahul Tewatia, who twice cleared the ropes in 30 balls, but Yash finished the innings with career-best T20 statistics after he was caught deep square leg.
Rahul and Stoinis Built The Innings After Early Collapses
With Quinton de Kock making his 100th IPL appearance by clattering Umesh Yadav into the stands with the second delivery, LSG was looking to get off to a quick start against the new ball. He did not make it through the over, though, as a massive top edge to deep third ended an attempted repeat. After scoring four consecutive single-figure scores for his new team, Devdutt Padikkal left Lucknow looking vulnerable at 18 for 2 in the third over.
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But Rahul is the ideal candidate for a rebuild, and with Stoinis by his side, the innings was salvaged. The two batted carefully in the middle of the innings after Spencer Johnson’s second over produced three boundaries. However, in the 13th over, Rahul nearly seemed to have his first shot in anger as he tried to hit Darshan Nalkande over long-on but failed to reach the target. The partnership terminated just as LSG was trying to make a run at it, worth 73 from 62 balls.
Pooran Powered LSG To 163/5
After misfiring on Noor Ahmed straight up in the next over, Stonis ought to have been removed, but Rashid missed the opportunity while sprinting in from a distance. While Stoinis broke free to smash Nalkande twice over long-on for a 40-ball half-century, he perished while attempting to target the same bowler, top-edging a skier to the keeper. Noor bowled his four overs off the reel for just 22 runs, allowing a single boundary.
LSG faced an uphill battle going into the final overs, with Rashid still having two up his sleeve and two new batsmen at the crease. After giving up five singles off the 17th, Rashid was relieved somewhat by Pooran and Ayush Badoni, who took Mohit Shah for three boundaries in the following over. Pooran hit the legspinner over midwicket for his sole boundary of the day, although Badoni holed out trying to take on Rashid. Another six in the last over, in which Johnson gave up only eight runs, saw LSG surpass the crucial 160-mark.
KL Rahul On Mayank Yadav Injury
Mayank’s departure due to a slowdown in pace and a challenging performance against Gujarat Titans created a moment of concern for LSG, but Krunal’s outstanding performance eased those worries.
Krunal Pandya’s remarkable bowling figures of 3 for 11 significantly dented Gujarat Titans’ middle order, contributing immensely to LSG’s victory and marking a memorable moment in IPL 2024. Despite initial concerns about Mayank’s condition, Krunal’s assessment that “he seemed okay, which was quite a relief for us,” highlighted the team’s collective focus on supporting each other during challenging moments.
Krunal’s insights into Mayank’s potential added depth to his contribution, acknowledging Mayank as a standout fast bowler and emphasizing his positive impact on the team. Krunal’s strategic approach to bowling, particularly against left-hand batters like Sai Sudharsan, showcased his ability to analyze opponents’ strengths and weaknesses, a crucial aspect of his success on the field.
The match not only showcased Krunal’s individual brilliance but also highlighted LSG’s determination and teamwork, culminating in their first-ever win against Gujarat Titans. Krunal’s performance serves as a testament to the team’s resilience and adaptability, setting a strong foundation for their journey in IPL 2024.
