Lucknow, April 12 (NationPress) A stellar performance from Nicholas Pooran (61) and Aiden Markram (58) led the Lucknow Super Giants to a remarkable six-wicket win against the top-ranked Gujarat Titans, achieving their target with three balls remaining at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium this Saturday.

After the Gujarat Titans set a target of 180/6, aided by half-centuries from openers Shubman Gill (60) and Sai Sudharsan (53), Markram partnered with an unexpected opening ally in Rishabh Pant (21), as Mitchell Marsh was absent from the matchday squad due to personal issues.

Pant, who has faced challenges this season, played a supporting role while Markram aggressively targeted the GT bowlers from the outset. Mohammed Siraj faced the brunt of their attack with 20 runs conceded in the third over.

The pair smoothly reached 60 runs during the power-play before Pant was dismissed at deep third man off Prasidh Krishna. Nevertheless, Lucknow maintained a strong position as Pooran, who reclaimed the Orange Cap from Sudharsan, continued his explosive form showcased throughout the season.

Beginning his fiery innings by striking straight down the ground off Rashid Khan, Pooran had a difficult catch dropped just two balls later. He followed up with a massive six off Washington Sundar in the subsequent over.

In response, Gill opted to bowl his most reliable spinner, Sai Kishore, in the next over, but Pooran’s onslaught continued. The duo amassed an astonishing 24 runs off Kishore in the 10th over, with Markram completing his second half-century of the season in just 26 balls before falling to Prasidh Krishna.

Pooran, however, remained relentless, hitting a six and a four off Siraj in the next over, ultimately reaching his fourth fifty of the tournament in 23 deliveries.

Pooran’s innings, highlighted by one four and seven sixes, concluded when he was out to Rashid Khan, marking the latter’s fourth wicket of the tournament. With just 24 runs required off 24 balls, Ayush Badoni (28*) and David Miller (7) nearly carried the team to victory, although Miller was dismissed by Sundar in the penultimate over.

With only six runs needed off the final over, Abdul Samad allowed Badoni to take the first delivery, which he converted into a four and a six, sealing the win off Sai Kishore as LSG finished at 186/4 in 19.3 overs.

In the first innings, Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan both scored fifties, forming a solid opening partnership of 120 runs to set a strong foundation for their total.

Gill achieved his 22nd IPL fifty in 31 deliveries, helping them reach the 100-run mark in just 58 balls. Sudharsan, on the other hand, reached his fourth half-century of the tournament in 32 balls.

Just as it appeared the duo was ready to accelerate, a fuller delivery from Avesh Khan led to Gill’s dismissal. Ravi Bishnoi further swung momentum back by taking out both Sudharsan and Sundar in the following over, curtailing the run rate.

What once looked like a guaranteed 200+ score for Gujarat dwindled as the LSG bowlers effectively restricted the new batsmen. Shardul took out Sherfane Rutherford and Rahul Tewatia in consecutive deliveries in the final over, limiting GT to 180/6.

Brief scores:

Gujarat Titans 180/6 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 60, Sai Sudharsan 53, Sherfane Rutherford 22; Shardul Thakur 2-34, Ravi Bishnoi 2-36) lost to Lucknow Super Giants 186/4 in 19.3 overs (Nicholas Pooran 61, Aiden Markram 58, Ayush Badoni 28*; Prasidh Krishna 2-26, Washington Sundar 1-28) by six wickets.