In a thrilling encounter, Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant emerged as the standout performer, scoring an impressive unbeaten 68 to secure a 5-wicket victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Pant’s stellar innings included a crucial 9 runs in the final over, earning LSG their first two points of the season.
Sunrisers Hyderabad set a target of 156 runs after rebounding from a challenging start in the power play. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klassen were instrumental in building the innings for the hosts, both notching up half-centuries to help SRH reach a competitive total.
LSG’s bowling attack, led by Mohammed Shami, made an immediate impact, dismissing Abhishek Sharma in the opening over. Shami’s exceptional performance saw him claim 2 wickets for just 9 runs in his 4 overs, effectively dismantling SRH’s top order.
Despite the early setbacks, Reddy and Klassen forged a solid partnership, pushing SRH to finish their innings at 156 runs. Chasing a target of 157, LSG started strong, amassing 81 runs in the first 10 overs. However, SRH’s bowlers fought back, taking crucial wickets, including that of Aiden Markram, who scored 45 runs off 27 balls.
Rishabh Pant, who had opened in the previous match, came in at number 3 following the departure of Marsh. His composed innings of 68 off 50 balls proved vital in steering LSG to victory. With 9 runs needed in the final over, Pant displayed his prowess by smashing three boundaries, sealing the win for his team.
For SRH, Harsh Dubey was the standout bowler, claiming 2 wickets for just 18 runs, while Eshan Malinga and Shivang Kumar contributed with a wicket each, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the loss.
With this victory, LSG bounced back after their initial defeat to Delhi Capitals in their season opener. The Lucknow franchise is set to face KKR in their next match, while SRH will take on PBKS in an away game.