LSG’s highly anticipated home debut did not quite go according to script with the captain’s batting woes continuing and the team unable to make the most of their quality-packed lineup. Returning just 171/7 in 20 overs, they could not defend the score, with PBKS easily chasing it down, bolstered by sensational knocks from Prabhsimran Singh, skipper Shreyas Iyer, and Nehal Wadhera a gameplan LSG themselves should have adopted.
LSG’S STRUGGLE :
–Sent in to bat first, LSG were in deep trouble at 35/3. But key contributions from Nicholas Pooran and Ayush Badoni, coupled with a late cameo by Abdul Samad, provided them with a fighting chance. Arshdeep Singh was the pick of the PBKS bowlers, taking 3/43, while Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Glenn Maxwell, and Yuzvendra Chahal also contributed wickets. In spite of a short resistance in the shape of a half-century partnership between Pooran and Badoni, LSG could not form meaningful partnerships.
PUNJAB’S DOMINATING WIN :
In the chase, PBKS lost Priyansh Arya early on, but strong performances by Prabhsimran, Iyer, and Wadhera made it an easy eight-wicket win with 22 balls remaining. Digvesh Rathi was the only silver lining with the ball for LSG, taking 2/30 from his four overs, but that wasn’t enough to stop PBKS in their stride. Punjab Kings have moved up to second place in the table with this win, two wins from two matches, while LSG, one win and two losses, have fallen to sixth position.