Marsh's 111 off 56 dismantles Hazlewood as LSG edge RCB by 9 runs
Synopsis
Mitchell Marsh didn't just score a century—he dismantled Josh Hazlewood with ruthless precision. His 111 off 56 balls, the fastest by any LSG opener in IPL history, exposed the gaps in RCB's bowling strategy and deepened Hazlewood's form crisis. Two games, two collapses: the Australian pacer's struggles are now RCB's biggest headache.
Key Takeaways
Mitchell Marsh scored 111 off 56 balls — 9 fours, 9 sixes — for LSG against RCB on 8 May .
Marsh's century is the fastest by any LSG batter in IPL history at 49 balls .
LSG posted 209 runs in a 19-over-a-side rain-curtailed match and won by 9 runs .
Josh Hazlewood took 1-49 , continuing a poor run — he also conceded 56 runs against Gujarat Titans in his previous game.
Aakash Chopra praised Marsh's attacking approach and flagged Hazlewood's form as a critical issue for RCB's back-to-back losses.
Mitchell Marsh smashed 111 runs off 56 balls — including nine fours and nine sixes — to power Lucknow Super Giants to a nine-run victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a rain-curtailed 19-over-a-side encounter on 8 May. The Australian opener's century, the fastest by any LSG batter in IPL history at 49 balls, proved decisive as LSG posted 209 runs and then held firm.
Marsh's dominance over Hazlewood
Former cricketer Aakash Chopra highlighted Marsh's aggressive approach against Australian spearhead Josh Hazlewood, calling his execution against the pacer "phenomenal." Chopra noted that Marsh's height and long levers allow him to go "downtown" with ease, leaving Hazlewood with few bowling options. "The moment you start hitting fast bowlers over their heads and into the stands, where do you actually bowl to him? You can't bowl short to him because he's brilliant square of the wicket," Chopra told Jio Hotstar.
Consistency in a shuffled lineup
Chopra underscored that Marsh is the only batter in the LSG setup who has batted at the same position throughout the tournament, while others have been rotated. This consistency, combined with his physical attributes, has made him a stabilising force at the top of the order.
Hazlewood's slump raises questions
The Australian pacer's form has become a concern for RCB. Hazlewood finished with figures of 1-49 against LSG, continuing a worrying trend. In his previous outing against Gujarat Titans, he conceded 56 runs and took no wickets. Chopra flagged the pattern: "It's twice in two games now that Josh has leaked a lot of runs. First, it was Shubman Gill, who took him down in Ahmedabad, and this time, it was Mitchell Marsh. RCB have also lost two on the bounce, so there is a correlation because if he goes for runs, then there are problems."
What this means for RCB
The back-to-back defeats underscore RCB's vulnerability against aggressive batting in the powerplay. With Hazlewood struggling to contain attacking openers, the franchise faces mounting pressure to either find a solution or adjust its bowling strategy in upcoming matches.
Point of View
The entire innings collapses. Hazlewood's back-to-back failures—first against Gill, now Marsh—aren't aberrations; they signal that RCB's overseas fast-bowling investment isn't delivering under pressure. Two losses in a row with Hazlewood leaking runs is no coincidence. The franchise's death-overs planning looks fragile, and a third consecutive defeat could derail their playoff hopes.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many runs did Mitchell Marsh score against RCB?
Mitchell Marsh scored 111 runs off 56 balls, including 9 fours and 9 sixes, in LSG's victory over RCB on 8 May. It was his first century for the franchise.
Is Marsh's 111 the fastest century by an LSG batter in IPL history?
Yes. Marsh reached his century off just 49 balls, making it the fastest century by any LSG opener in IPL history, surpassing previous records.
What were Josh Hazlewood's figures against LSG?
Hazlewood took 1 wicket for 49 runs against LSG. This follows a previous match against Gujarat Titans where he conceded 56 runs without a wicket, raising concerns about his form.
Why did Aakash Chopra praise Marsh's approach against Hazlewood?
Chopra highlighted that Marsh's height and long levers allow him to hit fast bowlers over their heads and into the stands, leaving bowlers with limited options. He called Marsh's execution against Hazlewood 'phenomenal.'
How did LSG win the match against RCB?
LSG posted 209 runs in a rain-curtailed 19-over-a-side game, with Marsh's century forming the backbone of their total. They then defended the total to win by 9 runs.
