Lucknow Super Giants beat Gujarat Titans by six wickets in their Indian Premier League match on Saturday, showcasing some all-round excellence.
LSG chased down the target of 181 with three balls to spare with Aiden Markram (58) and Nicholas Pooran (61) hitting half-centuries. Ayush Badoni remained not out on 28 as LSG climbed to third position in the point table. In Mitchell Marsh's absence, who is sitting out of the match because of his daughter's illness, home skipper Rishabh Pant (21 off 18) opened the innings for the home team.
Prasidh Krishna (2/26) was the most successful bowler for GT, while Rashid Khan and Washington Sundar took a wicket apiece.
LSG had got a flying start, scoring 61 runs in the powerplay.
Markram was the aggressor in his partnership with Pant as he clobbered a Krishan short ball outside the leg-stump well over deep mid-wicket.
After Pant's dismissal, a confident Markram carried on with his deft touches while power-hitter Pooran dealt in sixes.
Sai Kishore, probably GT's best spinner this season, was taken to task by Pooran and Markram, especially the West Indian who smashed three huge sixes to pick up 24 runs of his first over.
Markram departed in search of another big hit, caught by Gill of Prasidh in the 12th over. He struck nine fours and one six during his knock.
Pooran was ferocious towards the square of the wicket on the leg side and decorated his knock with one four and seven huge hits over the fence. By the time Pooran got out, caught by Shahrukh Khan off Rashid Khan, the match was all but over.
Earlier, captain Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan struck half-centuries to help Gujarat Titans post 180 for 6 after they were invited to bat.
For LSG, Ravi Bishnoi and Shardul Thakur took two wickets apiece, while Avesh Khan and Digvesh Rathi got one each.
