The Lucknow Super Giants racked up the second-highest total in the IPL history as they pummelled Punjab Kings for 257 runs in Mohali on Friday. And this was without a major contribution from their captain and opener KL Rahul, who would be rueing this missed opportunity to score big on a flat track as he managed only 12 runs in 9 balls and was dismissed by Kagiso Rabada.
KL Rahul started off with a stylish lofted straight six off Rabada but the South African had his revenge by getting rid of the LSG captain with a back of length delivery, caught at short thirdman.
There was, though no respite for the PBKS other than that as one after another, the LSG batters stormed in Mohali today. Kyle Mayers cracked 54 off 24 and took LSG’s total to 74 in the powerplay. After Mayers’ blitz in the powerplay, it was about to get even worse for PBKS.
Ayush Badoni scored 43 runs off 24 balls and was involved in a big partnership of 89 (47) with Marcus Stoinis, who raised a fifty. Stoinis was then involved in another gigantic stand with Nicholas Pooran worth 76 (30). Both the batters smothered the ball with utter disdain and the PBKS bowlers all around the park: Stoinis scored 72 off 40 and Pooran scored 45 off 19 as LSG became only the second team to cross the 250-mark in the IPL. They, however, fel l only 6 runs short of RCB’s highest total of 263 runs.
Did Harsha Bhogle take an indirect dig at KL Rahul?
Harsha Bhogle tweeted: “Perfect power play by #LSG. It is okay to lose a couple of wickets in the PP if you get to 75.”
Perfect power play by #LSG. It is okay to lose a couple of wickets in the PP if you get to 75.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 28, 2023
Some fans seem to think that this it was a dig at KL Rahul, whose intent has been in question over the past few years in T20 cricket.
