Prabhsimran Singh delivered a scintillating 34-ball 69 as Punjab Kings outclassed Lucknow Super Giants by eight wickets in an Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter on Monday, securing victory with a dominant all-round performance.
Set a target of 172 on a surface offering grip and variable bounce, Punjab Kings commenced their chase in emphatic fashion.
Prabhsimran took charge early, bludgeoning the LSG bowling attack with nine boundaries and three sixes in the first 10 overs. His fearless stroke play effectively sealed the contest before the innings had reached its halfway mark.
Skipper Shreyas Iyer (52 not out off 30 balls) steered the chase with ease, while Nehal Wadhera (43 not out off 25 balls) gained confidence towards the end as Punjab completed the formalities in 16.2 overs.
The match was defined by contrasting powerplays, with Punjab Kings decisively outperforming their opponents. LSG stumbled to 39 for three in their batting powerplay, losing key top-order wickets and placing undue pressure on the middle order.
Punjab’s bowlers executed their plans effectively. Arshdeep Singh (3/43 in four overs) led the charge, supported by Lockie Ferguson (1/26 in three overs), Marco Jansen (1/28 in four overs), Glenn Maxwell (1/22 in three overs), and Yuzvendra Chahal (1/36 in four overs).
When Punjab Kings batted, Prabhsimran dominated, scoring 45 of the team’s 62 powerplay runs. The LSG bowling attack struggled to make an impact, with their options appearing underwhelming this season.
The unavailability of Mayank Yadav and the lacklustre form of lead spinner Ravi Bishnoi further compounded their problems. Shardul Thakur, who went unsold initially in the auction, and the erratic Avesh Khan failed to provide stability.
Earlier, on a two-paced surface with variable bounce, Punjab Kings’ disciplined bowling restricted LSG despite significant contributions from Nicholas Pooran (44 off 30 balls) and Ayush Badoni (41 off 33 balls). Their efforts proved insufficient in lifting the total to a challenging figure.
Iyer’s astute field placements ensured Punjab always held the upper hand. Pooran, though comfortable against both pacers and spinners, was unable to fully dictate terms. Iyer positioned a deep extra cover in the powerplay to curb Pooran’s aggression, limiting his ability to unleash his trademark cover drives.
LSG skipper Rishabh Pant (2), the most expensive buy in IPL auction history, endured yet another failure. His dismissal, off a Maxwell long-hop, was far from inspiring. Attempting a slog behind square, he could only manage a catch to Chahal at short fine leg.
Arshdeep set the tone for Punjab’s bowling performance by removing Mitchell Marsh (0) in the opening over with a delivery that bounced unexpectedly. Aiden Markram (28 off 18 balls) threatened briefly but was undone by Ferguson’s nip-backer.
Pooran took the attack to Chahal, striking two sixes, but the seasoned leg-spinner had the final say. After conceding 15 in his opening over, Chahal outfoxed Pooran with a wider delivery, forcing the batter into a miscued shot to the deep. Pooran’s knock included five boundaries and two sixes.
Badoni struck three sixes and a four but struggled to seize the momentum for LSG. It was Abdul Samad’s late cameo (27 off 12 balls) that pushed the total past 170, yet it was far from enough against a rampant Punjab side.
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