Lucknow Super Giants beat Punjab Kings by 20 runs in Match 41 of the Indian Premier League 2022, at the MCA Stadium in Pune. Kagiso Rabada's 4-28 restricted Lucknow Super Giants to 153/8, but the Punjab batters failed to step up to the occasion.
Lucknow Super Giants 153/8 in 20 overs
Sandeep Sharma and Arshdeep Singh shared new-ball duties, and did well to contain the Lucknow's openers. Rabada provided an early breakthrough by getting K.L. Rahul caught by Jitesh Sharma. Quinton de Kock struck two successive sixes off Rabada, who then shelled de Kock's catch in the next over. De Kock added 85 with Deepak Hooda. They were not able to strike regular boundaries, as the Punjab bowlers kept things tight after the Powerplay. De Kock finally fell in the 13th over, when Sandeep had him caught by Jitesh.
Lucknow then lost the plot as four wickets fell in three overs. Recalled in the 15th over, Rabada claimed Ayush Badoni and Krunal Pandya. Dushmantha Chameera smashed two successive sixes before Rabada deceived him with a cross-seam ball. In the last 1.3 overs, Lucknow managed only one four to finish on 153/8.
Punjab Kings 133/9 in 20 overs
Mayank Agarwal got Punjab off to a breezy start, scoring a quick 24 before Chameera claimed him. Nearly two years later, Ravi Bishnoi ended Shikhar Dhawan's agonising stay.
Punjab kept losing wickets at regular intervals, which hampered their chase. Jitesh and Bhanuka Rajapaksa too got out cheaply as Jonny Bairstow waged a lone battle with his 28-ball 32. Bairstow's dismissal gave an upper hand to Lucknow, and they restricted Punjab to 133/8.
Brief scores
Lucknow Super Giants 153/8 in 20 overs (Quinton de Kock 46; Kagiso Rabada 4-28) lost to Punjab Kings 133/8 (Jonny Bairstow 32; Mohsin Khan 3-24) by 20 runs. Player of the Match: Krunal Pandya.