Did William O'Rourke Lead LSG to Victory Over GT?

Ahmedabad, May 22 (NationPress) Pacer William O'Rourke achieved an impressive 3-27, including two crucial wickets in the 17th over, leading Lucknow Super Giants to a 33-run victory over the top-ranked Gujarat Titans during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday.

After opener Mitchell Marsh delivered the fastest century in the history of Lucknow Super Giants with a blistering 117 off 64 balls, propelling the team to a total of 235/2, the visiting team dismantled GT’s formidable top three batsmen within the first ten overs.

The middle order of GT faced a tough challenge, but Shahrukh Khan kept them afloat by forming an 86-run partnership off 40 balls with Sherfane Rutherford for the fourth wicket. However, O’Rourke’s double strike resulted in GT finishing at 202/9, ensuring that LSG emerged victorious in both encounters against the hosts this season.

Chasing a target of 236, Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan began aggressively, hitting eight fours in the initial four overs - five of which came off GT's captain’s bat. After Sudharsan struck a four off O’Rourke, the pacer bowled a fuller delivery which the left-handed opener attempted to drive, only to be caught by a diving mid-off.

Jos Buttler made a rapid impact, scoring 20 runs off Avesh Khan in the final over of the power-play. Gill continued to shine with two boundaries until an attempted loft off Avesh led to a spectacular catch at long-off.

Akash Singh, who sustained a hand injury while attempting to stop a drive from Gill, managed to bowl a slower delivery that knocked over Buttler’s stumps. The left-arm pacer celebrated the wicket in honor of Digvesh Rathi, who was absent from this match due to accumulating demerit points, pointing towards the dressing room.

With 139 runs needed in the last ten overs, Shahrukh and Rutherford stepped up to keep GT in the chase, hitting quick boundaries before accumulating 17 and 19 runs off Avesh and Shahbaz Ahamad in the 14th and 15th overs, respectively.

With four overs remaining and 54 runs still required, Rutherford attempted an aerial flick off O’Rourke but was caught by substitute fielder Ravi Bishnoi. O’Rourke struck again in the same over, dismissing Rahul Tewatia and later having Arshad Khan caught at point. Once Avesh captured Shahrukh, who had reached his fifty in just 22 balls, the match was effectively sealed in favor of LSG.

Brief scores:

Lucknow Super Giants 235/2 in 20 overs (Mitchell Marsh 117, Nicholas Pooran 56 not out; R Sai Kishore 1-34, Arshad Khan 1-36) defeated Gujarat Titans 202/9 in 20 overs (Shahrukh Khan 57, Sherfane Rutherford 38; William O’Rourke 3-27, Ayush Badoni 2-4) by 33 runs