LSG defeat Gujarat Titans by 33 runs in high-scoring IPL thriller

KATHMANDU: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) stunned table-toppers Gujarat Titans with a commanding 33-run victory in the Indian Premier League (IPL), successfully defending a massive total at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Chasing a daunting target of 236, Gujarat Titans were restricted to 202 for 9 in their 20 overs.

Despite a promising start, their innings faltered under scoreboard pressure.

Opener Sai Sudharsan scored 21, while captain Shubman Gill made 35 and Jos Buttler contributed 33. At the fall of the third wicket, Gujarat had posted 96 runs on the board.

Needing a solid partnership to stay in the hunt, Sherfane Rutherford and Shahrukh Khan stitched together an 86-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Rutherford scored 38, while Shahrukh smashed a quickfire 57 off 29 deliveries. However, their dismissals triggered a collapse, and the remaining batters failed to make an impact.

For LSG, Will O’Riley starred with the ball, picking up 3 wickets. Avesh Khan and Ayush chipped in with 2 wickets each.

Earlier, Gujarat Titans opted to bowl first after winning the toss, but their bowlers were left chasing shadows as LSG posted a mammoth 235 for 2 in 20 overs.

Openers Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh gave Lucknow a flying start with a 91-run stand. Markram was dismissed for 36 off 24 balls, hitting 3 fours and 2 sixes, with Sai Kishore breaking the opening partnership in the 10th over.

Mitchell Marsh was then joined by Nicholas Pooran, and the duo put on a sensational 221-run partnership for the second wicket.

Marsh hammered a brilliant century, scoring 117 off 64 balls with 10 fours and 8 sixes before falling to Arshad Khan.

Pooran remained unbeaten on 56 off just 27 balls, while captain Rishabh Pant supported him with an unbeaten 16.

For Gujarat, only Sai Kishore and Arshad Khan managed a wicket apiece as their bowlers struggled to contain the flow of runs.