Pooran, Markram power LSG to comfortable win

A good comeback with the ball in the second half of their bowling effort, followed by quick-fire half-centuries from Nicholas Pooran (61 off 34) and Aiden Markram (58 off 31) powered Lucknow Super Giants to a six-wicket victory against Gujarat Titans as they chased down a target of 181 in 19.3 overs to move up to the third spot on the points table.

Where the game was won

In the middle overs. On a pitch that slowed in the second half of the innings, GT did well to pick up pace after the powerplay, with their openers scoring 55 in the five overs that followed the sixth over, scoring at a rate of 11. LSG did even better, thanks to Pooran. The left-hander lived up to his reputation as a spin-demolisher, striking maximums at will as soon as he came in. The outcome was 62 in the five overs after the powerplay, at a rate of 12.4. From overs 12-15, GT slowed down as they lost quick wickets and got only 26 runs in those four overs. In contrast, Pooran's fiery knock ensured sustained momentum for LSG. The key differentiator was the number of sixes hit by both sides. GT managed just three sixes in their entire innings, while Pooran alone smashed seven - all in the middle overs - underscoring the stark contrast.

The difference

GUJARAT TITANS

Powerplay: Steady start by the GT openers

Phase score - 54/0 [RR: 9.00, 4s/6s: 6/1]

After starting the tournament with a couple of half-century stands, Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan weren't able to put on a substantial stand in their last three outings. Eager to make amends, they got off to a positive start after being asked to bat, striking regular boundaries to set a good platform. Meanwhile, LSG missed a chance early to send Gill back as Pooran missed a direct hit after the GT skipper set off for a quick single. Both batters struck three fours apiece while Sudharsan also whipped away a delivery from Avesh Khan over deep backward square for the first six to help GT to 50. Shardul Thakur bowled a couple of tight overs but Akash Deep proved expensive in the powerplay, conceding 22 in his two overs in this phase.

Middle overs: LSG fight back after century stand

Phase score - 81/3 [9.00, 4s/6s: 8/1]

With wickets in hand, GT openers were more prolific as the innings wore on. The ninth over, bowled by Digvesh Rathi, was the first in which GT did not manage a boundary, as they found the fence regularly. Gill also hit his first six in a 15-run over from Aiden Markram as he reached a 31-ball fifty and GT went past 100 in the 10th over. Sudharsan had a lucky break as he was put down by Abdul Samad off Rathi and the left-handed opener brought up a 34-ball fifty, his 10th in the IPL, with a boundary. Akash went for 11 in his third over, including a four each for the two openers, but the stand ended in the 13th over when Aiden Markram took a good catch close to the long-on boundary, resulting in Avesh getting the wicket of Gill. Only two came in that over, and Sudharsan fell soon after, caught by Pooran after trying to go over cover off Ravi Bishnoi. Washington Sundar also chopped one onto the stumps in the same over, which yielded only 5, as LSG staged a good comeback.

Death overs: LSG apply the brakes as GT finish with 180

Phase score - 45/3 [9.00, 4s/6s: 4/1]

After the quick wickets late in the middle overs, the onus was on Jos Buttler and Sherfane Rutherford to lead GT towards a good total. LSG, though, kept it tight at the start of the death, with Bishnoi conceding only 4 in his final over. Rutherford was put down by Rishabh Pant off Rathi, but the bowler soon picked up the wicket of Buttler, just after being hit for a four. Only 8 came in the 17th over as Rathi finished with 1-30 from his four overs. Shardul, despite bowling three wides and being hit for a four, gave away only 10 in the 18th over. A 12-run over from Avesh, in which Rutherford struck two fours, helped GT close to the 170 mark. Shardul bagged Rutherford's wicket soon after being hit for a six, and also sent Rahul Tewatia back. It was a good comeback from LSG, who conceded only 60 in the last eight overs of the innings.

LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS

Powerplay: Markram powers LSG's aggressive start

Phase score - 61/0 [RR: 10.17, 4s/6s: 9/1]

With Mitchell Marsh unavailable for this game, Pant came out to open with Markram and had a reprieve in the first over as Buttler was late to react. Only eight came off the first two overs but Siraj bowled an expensive third over, conceding 20 runs - including two fours for Markram, one boundary for Pant and five wides. Markram and Pant hit a four apiece off Arshad Khan before the right-hander got the first maximum of the innings by going over midwicket off Prasidh Krishna. The bowler was unlucky not to bag the wicket of Markram twice in the same over - Arshad spilled a catch at short thirdman while Sudharsan did well to stop the ball diving at cover, although it went down as a half-chance. Pant wasn't at his flamboyant best but he did manage a four off Rashid Khan, his third in the first phase. Markram, on the other hand, scored fluently and collected 6 fours and a six.

Middle overs: Pooran blitz makes life easier for LSG

Phase score - 93/2 [RR: 10.33, 4s/6s: 5/7]

Pant played an authoritative pull off Prasidh but fell soon after, trying to take on a short delivery. Then came a flurry of sixes as Pooran went straight for a maximum off Rashid and Washington, and three sixes to the leg-side in the 10th over off Sai Kishore, taking 24 off the over. Markram was happy dealing in fours, scoring boundaries off Washington and Sai Kishore en route to a 26-ball fifty as LSG went past 110 in the 10th over. He struck his ninth four by slapping a Siraj delivery over mid off but fell in the next over to Prasidh. But Pooran was unstoppable, nailing a six over deep square leg off Siraj and a boundary to thirdman that helped the West Indian bring up a blazing 23-ball fifty, his first at the Ekana Stadium. But by the time the middle overs ended, Pooran had blazed away to 61 and brought the equation down to 27 off 30.

Death overs: LSG stumble but get home in the end

Phase score - 32/2 [RR: 7.11, 4s/6s: 2/1]

Rashid eventually ended Pooran's stay as he found long on going for another six. Only three came off the 16th over while LSG managed just 6 off the next, but GT missed out on a key opportunity to send David Miller back as Buttler couldn't collect the ball properly to effect a run-out. And such was the effect of Pooran's knock that there wasn't much pressure on LSG despite the tight overs from GT. But GT did well to take the game to the last over, with Miller getting bowled by Washington trying to play across the line in the 19th over. With six needed, Abdul Samad took a single before Ayush Badoni finished it off with a four and a six off Sai Kishore.

Brief scores: Gujarat Titans 180/6 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 60, Sai Sudharsan 56; Shardul Thakur 2-34, Ravi Bishnoi 2-36) lost to Lucknow Super Giants 186/4 in 19.3 overs (Nicholas Pooran 61, Aiden Markram 58; Prasidh Krishna 2-26) by 6 wickets.

What next for the teams?

With the confidence of this victory, LSG will be keen to add to their home wins when they take on a struggling Chennai Super Kings in their fourth home game, on April 14. GT, meanwhile, have a lengthy break ahead of their fourth home match, against Delhi Capitals on April 19.