Bowlers, top order deliver crushing win for PBKS

A collective effort from the bowlers was followed by belligerent batting from Prabhsimran Singh (69 off 34), Shreyas Iyer (52* off 30) and Nehal Wadhera (43* off 25) as Punjab Kings thumped Lucknow Super Giants by eight wickets to register their second successive win. Playing their first home game, LSG finished with 171/7, a total that proved too little for a rampaging Punjab side who got over the line with 3.4 overs to spare.

Where was the game won?

In the first half of both innings. A disciplined bowling effort from PBKS, on what looked like a slowish wicket, helped them pick up regular wickets to keep LSG's scoring in check. Even though Nicholas Pooran led his team's recovery with a flurry of hits, LSG got only 76 runs in their first 10 overs, at the cost of three wickets. In contrast, Prabhsimran flayed the LSG attack as he raced to a 23-ball half-century - the fastest in IPL games in Lucknow - and by the time the 10th over was completed, PBKS had galloped to 110/1, 34 more than what LSG had at that stage.

LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS

Powerplay: Regular strikes dent LSG

Phase score - 39/3 [RR: 6.50, 4s/6s: 4/1]

LSG suffered an early blow as the in-form Mitchell Marsh fell for a golden duck, getting a leading edge trying to tuck an Arshdeep delivery to the leg side. Only three came in the opening over and Lockie Ferguson, who replaced Azmatullah Omarzai, followed it up with another tight over, giving away only four. Aiden Markram got LSG going with three fours off Arshdeep in the third over and also took on Ferguson, hitting a four and a six. But the Kiwi bowler hit back by having the South African batter inside-edge onto the stumps. LSG had another setback in the next over when Rishabh Pant hit a short ball from Glenn Maxwell straight to short fine leg and a quiet over from Marco Jansen ended a successful powerplay for PBKS.

Middle overs: LSG make steady recovery

Phase score - 78/1 [RR: 8.66, 4s/6s: 8/4]

Despite top-edging a six off Jansen, Ayush Badoni had a slow start but Nicholas Pooran ensured steady progress for LSG with regular hits to the fence. Pooran lived up to his reputation as a good striker of spin, taking on Maxwell and Yuzvendra Chahal. He even struck a four and a six off Marcus Stoinis, bringing up the half-century stand in the process. Pooran was looking good for his fifth successive IPL fifty but he fell six short of the mark, sucked into a lofted shot by Chahal to be caught at long off. Meanwhile, Badoni, who was on 16 off 19, finally got going as he played an exquisite cover drive off Ferguson for a six. David Miller picked up pace after a watchful start, scoring boundaries off Chahal and Maxwell, as LSG regained traction.

Death overs: Badoni, Samad help LSG past 170

Phase score - 54/3 [RR: 10.80, 4s/6s: 3/3]

Jansen bagged the wicket of Miller, who looked to punch a delivery that had extra bounce, getting an edge to the 'keeper. Abdul Samad got going with a six off the first ball he faced, and Badoni also struck a maximum off Chahal. The momentum that LSG were hoping for came in the 18th over in which Arshdeep conceded 20. Three fours and a six came in that over, including an audacious scoop shot by Samad. But PBKS had a good finish as Jansen bowled a tight 19th over, giving away only 8 runs and Arshdeep came back well in the final over, dismissing Badoni and Samad, to keep LSG below 175.

PUNJAB KINGS

Powerplay: Prabhsimran off the blocks quickly

Phase score - 62/1 [RR: 10.33, 4s/6s: 7/3]

Prabhsimran got PBKS off to a good start, striking two fours and a six inside the first two overs. Priyansh Arya put away a short ball from Digvesh Rathi for a boundary before he was put down by Marsh at slip. Arya then top-edged a pull to depart in the same over, with a send off from the bowler reminiscent of Kesrick Williams. The dismissal did little to stop PBKS's tempo as Prabhsimran continued to deal in boundaries, including two fours and a six off Ravi Bishnoi, to power the team past 60 before the powerplay was completed.

Middle overs: Prabhsimran fifty puts LSG in the driver's seat

Phase score - 93/1 [RR: 10.33, 4s/6s: 8/5]

Left-arm spinner M Siddharth came in as an impact sub and was welcomed into the attack with a switch-hit four by Prabhsimran. Iyer went over cover for a maximum in the same over before Prabhsimran took a single to bring up a 23-ball fifty. The spree of boundaries continued as he hit two fours off Bishnoi and one off Siddharth. Not to be left behind, Iyer hooked a short ball from Shardul Thakur for a six as PBKS wiped off 64 percent of the target in the first half of their innings. A terrific relay effort near the boundary involving Badoni and Bishnoi ended Prabhsimran's entertaining innings, giving Rathi his second wicket. Nehal Wadhera, PBKS' impact sub, dealt in regular boundaries, including two sixes and a four in a Bishnoi over. Iyer also played his shots well, striking a four and a six off Avesh Khan, leaving PBKS needing only 17 off 30.

Death overs: Iyer, Wadhera ensure early finish

Phase score - 22/0 [RR: 16.54; 4s/6s: 1/3]

Wadhera crunched a six off Thakur to bring up the half-century stand, followed by another six to bring the equation to single digits. A four and a dot followed, leaving Iyer, on 46, to hit the winning six and bring up his second successive fifty in the process. PBKS' facile win also gave them a big NRR boost as they moved up to the second spot on the points table.

Brief scores: Lucknow Super Giants 171/7 in 20 overs (Nicholas Pooran 44, Ayush Badoni 41; Arshdeep Singh 3-43) lost to Punjab Kings 177/2 in 16.2 overs (Prabhsimran Singh 69, Shreyas Iyer 52*, Nehal Wadhera 43*; Digvesh Singh Rathi 2-30) by 8 wickets.

What's next for the teams?

LSG stay back in Lucknow for their second home game as they'll take on Mumbai Indians on April 4. PBKS will fly to Chandigarh to play their first home match, against Rajasthan Royals on April 5.