Punjab Kings thrash Lucknow Super Giants by eight wickets

Lucknow: Punjab Kings put up a masterclass in both bowling and batting as they steamrolled Lucknow Super Giants by eight wickets with 22 balls to spare in Match 13 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 here on Tuesday.

 The contest began with Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer winning the toss and electing to bowl first, a decision that proved to be the perfect one as his bowlers responded with relentless discipline and aggression.

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. Lockie Ferguson, playing his first game for PBKS, made an immediate impact as well, removing the promising Aiden Markram for a well-made 28 off 18 deliveries.

With the top order crumbling, LSG turned to their experienced duo of Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran for some stability. However, Shreyas Iyer’s tactical masterstroke of introducing Glenn Maxwell into the attack paid off immediately.  Maxwell, who had dismissed Pant twice before in the tournament, repeated the trick by forcing the LSG skipper into an ill-advised shot, resulting in his early departure.

Nicholas Pooran, along with Ayush Badoni, tried to resurrect the innings with a 54-run stand 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. Badoni, playing the anchor role, soon shifted gears and found an aggressive partner in Abdul Samad. The duo took 20 runs off an over from Arshdeep Singh, injecting some much-needed impetus into the LSG innings.  Samad, known for his big-hitting prowess, wasted no time and launched his very first ball for a maximum. His quickfire 27 off just 12 balls included three sixes and one boundary, lifting LSG to a competitive total.

Chasing 172, Punjab Kings came out with a clear intent to dominate. While Priyansh Arya fell early to Digvesh Singh Rathi, Prabhsimran Singh made sure there were no further hiccups.  The aggressive opener dismantled the LSG attack with a breathtaking 69 off just 34 balls, taking Punjab to 84/2 in no time. Later Wadhera’s explosive 43 off just 25 balls, featuring three fours and four sixes, ensured Punjab raced towards the target without any further stutters. With the finish line in sight, Iyer (unbeaten 52 off 30 balls) fittingly sealed the victory in grand fashion, dispatching a delivery over the ropes to bring up his second consecutive fifty and hand Punjab a comprehensive win in just 16.2 overs. (IANS)

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