30 April
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
In a thrilling IPL match held at the Ikana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, the Lucknow Supergiants emerged victorious against the Mumbai Indians by 4 wickets, dampening the birthday celebrations of Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma. Lucknow captain K.L. Rahul’s decision to bowl first proved beneficial as Mumbai Indians struggled to set a competitive total, managing only 144 runs in their allotted 20 overs.
Chasing a target of 145 runs, Lucknow faced an early setback with Arshin Kulkarni dismissed on the first ball. However, Marcus Stinis anchored the innings with a resilient half-century, scoring 62 runs off 45 balls. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Nicholas Puran’s composed innings of 14 runs in 14 balls sealed the victory for Lucknow, with Karunal Pandya remaining unbeaten at 1 run.
The defeat dealt a significant blow to Mumbai Indians’ playoff aspirations, as they now face an uphill battle with only 6 points from 10 matches. Lucknow Supergiants, on the other hand, strengthened their position in the playoffs race with 12 points from 10 matches, showcasing their prowess in the tournament.