RCB vs LSG Review – Stoinis,Pooran help Lucknow clinch a last-ball thriller
Royal Challengers Bangalore suffered a heartbreaking one-wicket loss in a last-ball thriller against Lucknow Super Giants in the 15th match of the Indian Premier League 2023 (IPL) on April 10. Faf du Plessis played a captain’s knock, smashing 79* off just 46 while Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell scored quick-fire fifties to help Bangalore score 212/2 batting first. But Nicholas Pooran and Marcus Stoinis recorded brave knocks to chase the target to get LSG in a position to complete the chase on the last ball.
KL Rahul won the toss and decided to chase at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium. He was quick to regret as Bangalore’s openers du Plessis and Kohli pulled off a quick 96-run stand for the opening wicket. Kohli recorded his second fifty this season as he scored 61 off 44 to get his name in the Orange Cap race.
Amit Mishra dismissed Kohli to give Lucknow an opening, but the runs kept flowing for RCB with du Plessis and Maxwell moving along. Maxwell smashed 59 off just 29 before getting out in the last over but du Plessis remained unbeaten.
While chasing a mammoth target, Lucknow lost in-form Kyle Mayers on the third delivery. Debutant pacer Wayne Parnell added further pressure on Lucknow with two wickets in the fourth over to put RCB in a comfortable position.
But overseas stars Stoinis and Pooran recorded memorable knocks to shift the momentum towards their team. Stoinis top-scored with 65 off just 30 while Pooran added 62 off just 19 to win the Player of the Match award.
Harshal Patel picked two wickets in the last over when Lucknow needed just five runs to win. But Avesh Khan managed to clinch a winning single on the innings’ last delivery to help Lucknow Super Giants win two big points.
Top performers from the match:
Nicholas Pooran: The West Indies batter justified a hefty price tag on his head by smashing 62 off just 19 with the help of four fours and seven sixes. He recorded a 15-ball fifty, the fastest of IPL 2023 and the second-fastest overall, to completely change the momentum towards Lucknow.
Faf du Plessis: The veteran opener top-scored with 79* off just 46 with five fours and five sixes to ensure a big total for his team. He was defensive when Kohli was leading the charge but after the latter’s dismissal, the South African exploded and won the Gamechanger of the Match award as well.
What’s next for both teams?
Both teams return to action on April 15 with Lucknow Super Giants hosting Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore playing Delhi Capitals at home.
