IPL 2022: KL Rahul's Lucknow Super Giants beat Punjab Kings by 20 runs

Pacer Dushmantha Chameera (2/17) and Krunal Pandya (2/11) led LSG's spirted bowling effort

Lucknow Super Giants pounced on the mistakes of a self-destructing Punjab Kings to record a 20-run win in the Indian Premier League on Friday (April 29). Kagiso Rabada struck four times as Punjab Kings upped their game in the bowling department to restrict Lucknow Super Giants to 153 for eight. It should have been a straight forward chase but Punjab fluffed to end at 133 for eight in 20 overs.

Pacer Dushmantha Chameera (2/17) and Krunal Pandya (2/11) led LSG's spirted bowling effort but they were also aided by the recklessness of the Punjab batters who struggled to convert starts, including skipper Mayank Agarwal (25), Liam Livingstone (18) and Jonny Bairstow (32).

Left-arm pacer Mohsin Khan also ended with three wickets. Rishi Dhawan (21 not out) tried his best to bring back Punjab from the dead but it proved to be too much of a task. A sixth win in nine games takes IPL debutants LSG closer to a play-off berth while the task gets tougher for Punjab who have only four wins in nine games.

Earlier, the second wicket stand of 85 runs between opener Quinton de Kock (46 off 37) and Deepak Hooda (34 off 28) was the lone bright spot of LSG's innings. The pace trio of Rabada (4/38), Arshdeep Singh (0/23) and Sandeep Sharma (1/18) delivered in different ways, while leg spinner Rahul Chahar chipped in with a couple of wickets.

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