IPL 2023: LSG VS SRH, Krunal, Rahul Powers Lucknow to Their Second Win

IPL 2023: In a low-scoring affair, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) came up with an all-round performance to defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in match number 10 of the IPL 2023 by five wickets at the Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium, Lucknow on April 7, Friday. With their second successive win on home turf, LSG goes top of the points table with 2 wins and 1 loss to their name in three games.

SRH skipper Aiden Markram shocked everyone by opting to bat first. The new opening pair of Anmolpreet Singh and Mayank Agarwal could only add 21 runs before the latter was dismissed by Krunal Pandya in the third over. Anmolpreet was looking good with Rahul Tripathi as both started rebuilding the innings. When the partnership was looking good then Krunal struck again with the wicket of the SRH opener. In the very next delivery, Aiden Markram got out. Harry Brook failed to impress once again as LSG’s Ravi Bishnoi got him out stumped.

Tripathi was fighting the lone battle but like others, he too couldn’t stay for too long and gave his wicket away to rookie pacer Yash Thakur. When Washington Sundar got out, SRH was reeling at 104/6. Abdul Samad blasted two sixes in Jaydev Unadkat’s last over to take his team to 121 in the allotted 20 overs.

IPL 2023: LSG VS SRH, Easy Run Chase for LSG

Chasing a paltry total of 122, LSG once again got off to a brilliant start like the first two league games. However this time skipper KL Rahul was the aggressor with Kyle Mayers taking time on a wicket that was slow and low. It was quite evident that Mayers is struggling to get used to the conditions in play. His struggle came to an end when he pulled one shot straight into the hands of the fielder to give SRH their first wicket. On the last delivery of the powerplay, Bhuvneshwar Kumar outfoxed Deepak Hooda with a slower ball to end the powerplay with 2 LSG wickets.

Rahul was still there, joined by his deputy Krunal Pandya. Both had a match-defining partnership 55-run partnership off 38 balls to take the home side closer to the target. Rahul played a needless shot to end his innings. Romario Shepherd too got out on the first ball. Adil Rashid took both wickets. Despite losing three quick wickets, Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran made sure that LSG chased down the total without losing any more wickets. For his all-around brilliance, Krunal Pandya earned the Player of the Match award.