Key Points:
- Shardul Thakur’s fiery spell earned him the milestone of 100 IPL wickets.
- Nicholas Pooran’s explosive 70 off 26 balls powered Lucknow Super Giants to a five-wicket win.
- Lucknow chased down SRH’s target of 191 in just 16 overs, securing their first victory of IPL 2025.
New Delhi: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) secured their first win of IPL 2025 with a commanding five-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Thursday. The match saw standout performances from Shardul Thakur and Nicholas Pooran, who played pivotal roles in dismantling SRH.
Shardul Thakur’s Milestone Performance
Lucknow’s star bowler, Shardul Thakur, delivered a sensational spell, taking four wickets for 34 runs in his four overs. His scalps included the prized wicket of Ishan Kishan, who had scored a century in the previous game but was dismissed for a golden duck. Thakur also removed Abhishek Sharma in the same over, setting the tone for SRH’s collapse. With this performance, he achieved a remarkable milestone of 100 IPL wickets in just 97 matches, proving why he is fondly called “Lord Shardul.” His efforts earned him the coveted Purple Cap as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker.
Nicholas Pooran’s Explosive Knock
Chasing a target of 191, Nicholas Pooran unleashed his brute force with an electrifying knock of 70 runs off just 26 balls. His innings included six fours and six sixes, making SRH’s total look insufficient. Pooran’s blitzkrieg was complemented by Mitchell Marsh, who scored a quickfire 52 off 31 balls. Together, they ensured Lucknow reached the target on the first ball of the 16th over.
Match Summary
Lucknow won the toss and opted to bowl first. Despite Travis Head’s aggressive knock of 47 off 28 balls for SRH, Shardul Thakur’s disciplined bowling restricted them to 190/9. In response, LSG’s batting lineup dominated SRH’s bowling attack, with Pooran and Marsh leading the charge. Pat Cummins was the pick of the bowlers for Hyderabad, taking two wickets.
This victory marked Lucknow’s comeback after losing their opening match and highlighted their potential to be strong contenders this season.
