Lucknow Super Giants ended their six-match losing streak with a crucial nine-run win over defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru via the DLS method in an Indian Premier League clash in Lucknow on Thursday.
Rain reduced the contest to 19 overs per side, but the game still produced a run-fest as LSG posted 209/3 before restricting RCB to 203/6 in reply.
Mitchell Marsh stars with a brilliant century
The night belonged to Mitchell Marsh, who played a sensational knock of 111 off just 56 balls to anchor the Lucknow innings.
Marsh dominated from the outset and laid the foundation for a big total. He first stitched together a 95-run opening stand with Arshin Kulkarni, who contributed 17.
He then added another 70 runs for the second wicket with Nicholas Pooran, whose quickfire 38 kept the momentum firmly with Lucknow.
Late in the innings, captain Rishabh Pant provided the finishing flourish with a 10-ball 32, helping LSG finish at 209/3 in 19 overs.
RCB’s early collapse proves costly
Chasing a revised target of 213, RCB suffered an immediate setback.
Jacob Bethell and Virat Kohli were both dismissed within the first eight balls, leaving Bengaluru struggling at 9/2.
The innings was revived by a solid 95-run partnership between Devdutt Padikkal and skipper Rajat Patidar.
Padikkal scored 34, while Patidar kept RCB in the hunt with a fluent 61.
However, the chase turned sharply when RCB lost three wickets in the space of nine deliveries. Padikkal, Patidar and Jitesh Sharma fell in quick succession, putting the visitors under pressure once again.
Late fightback not enough
Despite the collapse, RCB did not go down without a fight.
Tim David smashed 40 off 17 balls, while Krunal Pandya made 28 off 16 and Romario Shepherd chipped in with 23 off 15.
Their late charge kept the equation alive until the final over, but RCB eventually finished at 203/6, falling short by nine runs.
What the result means
The victory gives LSG their third win of the season and their first after six straight defeats. Despite the win, Lucknow remain at the bottom of the table with six points from 10 matches.
RCB, meanwhile, suffered their fourth loss of the campaign. They remain third on the points table with 12 points from 10 matches.
For Lucknow, the result could provide much-needed momentum heading into the closing phase of the tournament, while Bengaluru will look to quickly regroup with the playoffs race intensifying.
