Prabhsimran, Iyer power Punjab to easy victory over Lucknow

Wicketkeeper-batsman Prabhsimran Singh scored an explosive 69 off 34 balls as Punjab Kings cruised to an eight-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday.

It was a ruthless display from the visitors, who outclassed LSG in all departments to claim their second consecutive win in the tournament.

Punjab chased down the target of 172 set by Lucknow with nearly four overs to spare, and captain Shreyas Iyer remained unbeaten on 52 off 30 balls.

“This is the start we required. Boys actually played their roles well, they contributed to the best of their ability, and whatever we planned, they executed it to the fullest.

“To be honest, there is no right combination. The camaraderie and synergy has to click at the right time,” Iyer said after Punjab’s dominant victory.

Playing their first home game of the season, Lucknow Super Giants started poorly as Arshdeep Singh struck a massive blow in the very first over, sending the dangerous Mitchell Marsh back for a golden duck, setting the tone for Punjab’s dominance.

Marsh’s opening partner Aiden Markram hit Arshdeep for three boundaries in his next over but fell for 28 off 18 soon after to New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson, who was playing his first match for the Kings.

With the top order crumbling, LSG turned to their experienced duo of Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran for some stability.

However, Iyer’s tactical masterstroke of introducing Glenn Maxwell into the attack paid off immediately as Pant’s stint at the crease was short-lived getting out for just two runs from five balls, leaving Lucknow reeling at 35-3 just prior to the end of the powerplay.

Nicholas Pooran and Ayush Badoni steadied the innings with a 54-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

However, just when he threatened to accelerate further, Yuzvendra Chahal produced a crucial breakthrough, tempting Pooran into a big shot that landed in the safe hands of Maxwell at long-off.

Pooran played a entertaining knock of 44 off 30 balls.

The attacking David Miller, who came in next, did not last long either, falling to fellow South African Marco Jansen for 19 off 18 deliveries.

Badoni (41) and Abdul Samad (27), both of whom were dismissed by Arshdeep in the last over of the innings, provided some late momentum to Lucknow, propelling them to a total of 171-7.

In response, Punjab lost opener Priyansh Arya cheaply for eight runs off nine balls to spinner Digvesh Rathi in the third over.

But Lucknow’s bowling attack only again tasted success in the 11th over when Prabhsimran fell, courtesy of a spectacular catch at the fence by Ravi Bishnoi.

By then, Iyer and Prabhsimran’s quickfire partnership of 84 — powered largely by the latter — had taken the match away from Lucknow.

“All teams have the potential to win the game, you just need to have a similar mindset of wanting to win - that is what we always talk about. I always try to be in the present, and this innings is history for me. I just want to focus on the next one now,” he concluded.

Left-handed batter Nehal Wadhera (43) then teamed up with Iyer to take Punjab over the line without any further setbacks.

Rathi (2-30) was the only Lucknow bowler to be among the wickets.

Skipper Pant admitted that his team were “20 to 30 runs short” as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) succumbed to defeat.

LSG struggled to keep up with a rampant Punjab outfit that dictated terms in both bowling and batting.

“It was not enough, we were 20-25 runs short. That is part and parcel of the game - our first home game, so still assessing the conditions. (On the early wickets, they lost) Definitely.

“It is always going to be tough (to get to a bigger total) when you lose early wickets.

“You cannot control everything, but each player is trying to take the game forward,” said Pant after the match.

Agencies

Brief scores:

Lucknow Super Giants 171/7 in 20 overs (Nicholas Pooran 44, Ayush Badoni 41; Arshdeep Singh 3-43, Marco Jansen 1-28) beat Punjab Kings 177/2 in 16.2 overs (Prabhsimran Singh 69, Shreyas Iyer 52 not out; Digvesh Singh Rathi 2-30) by eight wickets.