IPL24: LSG outplayed Punjab after new pace sensation is unleashed

  

The unknown fast bowler of just 21 years created a stir by changing the course of the match with high octane speed in his very first match of IPL career. In the match played at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Saturday 30 March, Lucknow Super Kings made a tremendous comeback and defeated Punjab Kings by 21 runs on the strength of the sensational bowling of young pacer Mayank Yadav. With this, the team registered its first win in the IPL 2024 season. At the same time, Punjab has to face defeat in the second consecutive match.

Lucknow, who suffered defeat at the hands of Rajasthan Royals in their first match, made a comeback in their second match of the season and registered a strong win. Lucknow batted first in this match and made a strong score of 199 runs in 20 overs. For them, Quinton de Kock scored a sparkling half-century, while Krunal Pandya and Nicholas Pooran, who is captaining in this match, also played explosive innings.  In response, Mayank Yadav, who was an unknown bowler till now, destroyed Punjab's middle order batting with his pace and bounce and they could only score 178 runs.

Dhawan-Bairstow's explosive start

In response to the target of 200 runs given by Lucknow, Shikhar Dhawan (70) and Johnny Bairstow (42) made a brilliant start for Punjab. Both of them scored 61 runs within the powerplay itself. Soon Shikhar completed his fast-paced fifty in just 30 balls. The attack of both continued till the 11th over, when they completed a century partnership. Punjab's performance continued till here because after this Mayank Yadav completely turned the match around.

Punjab was stunned by Mayank's speed

Hardly anyone had heard the name of Mayank Yadav (3/27) playing for Delhi before this, but Mayank, who was making his debut, got a chance to bowl for the first time in the 10th over. Where his fourth ball was at the speed of 150 kmph, which surprised Bairstow. From here everyone's attention went towards Mayank. Then on the first ball of his next over, Mayank recorded a speed of 155.8 and created a sensation by setting the record for the fastest ball in IPL 2024 so far.

In the same over, Mayank broke the partnership by taking the wicket of Bairstow with fast speed and bounce and Punjab made a comeback. In his next two overs also, he maintained a speed of more than 150 and along with this, he also got the wickets of Prabhsimran Singh and Jitesh Sharma with fast bounce. Lucknow had made a comeback. Then in the 17th over, Mohsin Khan confirmed the victory by taking the wickets of Shikhar (70) and Sam Curran (0) on consecutive balls.

 Lucknow batsmen scored heavily

In this match, Lucknow sent their captain KL Rahul to bat only as an impact player. Rahul expressed his intention to play fast by hitting a six and a four in the third over itself, but Arshdeep Singh took his wicket in the same over. However, on the other hand, Quinton de Kock (54) kept collecting boundaries and kept increasing the pace of runs. De Kock completed his half-century during this period, after which he was out.

At the same time, Nicholas Pooran, who is captaining for the first time in IPL, showed his full strength in this role and scored a quick 42 runs in just 21 balls while  striking explosive sixes. This gave Lucknow a good momentum. After his dismissal, Krunal Pandya put a tremendous finishing touch. The left-handed batsman took the team to 143 by racing to  an unbeaten 43 runs in just 22 balls with some explosive shots. Sam Curran took 3 wickets for Punjab while Arshdeep took 2 wickets .  Mayank for his brilliant bowling was declared the player of the match .