Big win for Lucknow on a night that threatened Gayle’s record
Only a die-hard cricket lover should remember the highest team collection of IPL. In 2013, Royal Challengers Bangalore scored 263 on Chris Gayle’s record for the highest individual run in T20 history. The decade-long record was under threat today. Lucknow Super Giants would have broken Bengaluru’s record if it was a little more.
Even if not, what Lucknow has done has turned the IPL record book upside down. Kyle Myers, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran’s batting spree scored 257 runs for 5 wickets against Punjab Kings, the team that came down to play only the second season. It goes without saying that this is the highest team collection of the season. Just what? This is the best batting performance of any team in last 9 years. The highest in the opponent’s field.
On the night of Lucknow’s record upset, the result of the match permissibly went in their favour. So Preity Zinta’s team didn’t do too bad. They also crossed the 200 mark before being bowled out with 1 ball to spare. Still lost by a big margin of 56 runs.
Even with this loss, however, Punjab remained sixth in the points list. Lokesh Rahul’s Lucknow came in second. Even with 10 points, Rajasthan Royals are at the top as they are ahead of Lucknow in net run rate.
Like the team’s maximum collection, the maximum runs scored by two teams in one match was also under threat. Even if it wasn’t in the end, the 458-run match will be remembered for a long time by cricket lovers who love to see runs. And if they hit two fours or sixes, Lucknow would have surpassed Bengaluru for the most boundaries in an innings in the IPL.
There is only one regret of Lucknow in this match – Marcus Stoinis injured his finger while bowling and is out of the field. How serious the injury of these Australian all-rounders is, however, is not known at the end of the match. However, Quinton de Kock can open his forehead even if his teammate is injured.
Nama Myers is in such great form to play his debut season in IPL that a star like de Kock has to sit out match after match! Of course, the depth of the Lucknow team is also revealed in it.
Batting first for a few days means that victory is guaranteed. Although the new ‘trend’ is known, Punjab captain Shikhar Dhawan, who returned from injury in this match, won the toss and sent Lucknow to bat. In the comeback match, Dhawan failed in everything from leadership to batting. The team also had to pay the price by losing by a big margin at home.
Short score
Lucknow Super Giants: 257/5 in 20 overs
(Stoinis 72, Myers 54, Pooran 45; Rabada 2/52, Livingstone 1/19, Curren 1/38)
Punjab Kings: 201 in 19.5 overs
(Taide 66, Raja 36, Jitesh 24; Tagore 4/37, Naveen 3/30, Vishnai 2/41)
Result: Lucknow Super Giants won by 56 runs.
