IPL 2024, LSG vs GT: Yash Thakur-Krunal Pandya combined 8-41 cripples Gujarat Titans; LSG secure third win & move to no. 3. Top Takeaways for GT and LSG from the match.
Brief Scores: LSG 163/5 (Marcus Stoinis 58, Darshan Nalkande 2/21) beat GT 130 (Sai Sudharsan 31, Yash Thakur 5/30) by 33 runs.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) defeated Gujarat Titans (GT) by 33 runs in Game 21 of IPL 2024 in Lucknow on Sunday to post their maiden win over the opponents. Yash Thakur took the first five-wicket haul in IPL 2024 as LSG bowled out GT for 130 while defending 163.
Key Takeaways from LSG vs GT, Match 21, IPL 2024 - Winning team (LSG)
Stoinis comes good finally, Padikkal needs to deliver
Lucknow’s top order has blown hot and cold so far this season. This time, they had slumped to 18/2 in 2.2 overs and needed a partnership to seize the momentum. Aussie all-rounder Marcus Stoinis who has had a below-par season so far with the bat, managing scores of 3, 19, and 24, finally came good with the bat. He smashed 58 off 43 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes. Most importantly, he resurrected the LSG innings with a stand of 73 runs in 10.2 overs with captain KL Rahul.
It was a rather uncharacteristic knock from Stoinis who curbed his natural attacking game to play risk-free cricket, helping LSG build a total. He was looking to up the momentum when he cracked two sixes off Darshan Nalkande in the 15th over but perished when he tried to attempt a third maximum. Nevertheless, Stoinis laid the platform for other hitters to post a big score. This fifty will give him a lot of confidence and bodes well for Lucknow ahead of tougher matches.
However, Lucknow have a cause for worry as Devdutt Padikkal’s constant failure is putting a burden on the middle-order. Padikkal has scores of 0, 9, and 6 in his last three IPL innings. He must score runs to merit a place in the XI. Padikkal has been around IPL for quite a few seasons and should be able to turn things around soon.
Krunal, Bishnoi’s exploits augur well for LSG
It was Lucknow’s spinners who brought the team on the path to victory. Ravi Bishnoi opened the floodgates with a brilliant caught and bowled dismissal of Kane Williamson. Krunal Pandya then came to the party, taking three wickets for 11 runs in his 4 overs, without conceding a single boundary.
Pandya mixed things up brilliantly; never giving any pace to play with, as Titans’ batters perished looking to hit the slow balls over the boundary line. The spin duo of LSG did the job brilliantly, taking 4 wickets for 19 runs in just 6 overs. Their performance bodes well for LSG as they did not only contain but also strike consistently in the middle-overs, giving no breathing space to the opposition.
Thakur’s performance is icing on the cake
Yash Thakur’s performance overshadowed the brilliant work done by LSG spinners. Nevertheless, he deserves a mention for his five-wicket haul as he made clever changes of pace, line and length on a slow track to make opposition batters commit errors and hole out in the deep. His wicket of Shubman Gill with a ball that moved into the right-hander to shatter the stumps was the best delivery bowled by him.
Key Takeaways from LSG vs GT, Match 21, IPL 2024 - Losing team (GT)
Middle order spells trouble
The loss against Lucknow exposed the Titans’ brittle middle order. They have an experienced Kiwi star in Kane Williamson but he is yet to find his groove so far. Besides, he is more of an accumulator than an attacking batter who can dictate terms to the opposition.
Titans are desperately missing David Miller, who is nursing a niggle. He cannot only anchor the innings but also hit cleanly to accelerate or finish off a chase. The Titans need Miller back in their XI quickly to add depth to their batting line-up.
Besides, the constant failure of Vijay Shankar as a batter has put more pressure on their middle-order. Shankar has scores of 6*, 12, 14*, 8, and 17 so far this season, and does not justify his spot in the middle-order. The Titans need to sort out their batting woes ahead of their next match.
Statistical Highlights from LSG vs GT, IPL 2024
Stoinis’ 58 was his first fifty in IPL 2024. Overall, he has scored 8 fifties in 86 IPL matches.
Today’s win by LSG was their first win over Titans in 5 matches. They have lost all their four matches to Titans before.
Pandya’s 3/11 against Titans is his best bowling figure in IPL, beating his previous best of 3/14 in IPL 2017. Pandya bowled 13 dot balls in his 4 overs and didn’t concede a single boundary.
Yash Thakur’s 5/30 is his best bowling figures in IPL. His previous best was 4/37 in IPL 2023.
Points Table Scenario & What's Next
LSG have posted their third win in 4 games in IPL 2024, and have jumped to the third spot with 6 points, behind Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who are undefeated so far. GT are placed 7th with 4 points, having won just two games out of five matches. LSG next face Delhi Capitals (DC) on April 12, while GT tackle Rajasthan on April 10.
A marquee encounter awaits as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) host Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) next in IPL 2024 at Chennai on April 8.
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