The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) won their second game on the bounce in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 after registering a victory against Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 20 runs on Friday at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. 

LSG successfully defended the target of 154 courtesy of an impressive bowling performance, led by Mohsin Khan and Krunal Pandya, who combined to take five crucial wickets.  

Chasing 154, PBKS openers – Shikhar Dhawan and Mayank Agarwal started steadily with the bat. Agarwal walloped two fours and as many sixes before the PBKS skipper was caught at mid-off by his opposite number. 

PBKS were 46-1 at the end of the powerplay. Ravi Bishnoi castled Dhawan with a slider and struck immediately after being introduced to the attack. 

Krunal Pandya took the third wicket of the innings after Rajapaksa’s leading edge was caught inside the circle.

The English duo of Liam Livingstone and Jonny Bairstow were out in the middle as PBKS were 67-3 at the end of ten overs. 

Livingstone crunched two consecutive sixes against Bishnoi but the right-handed batter was caught behind later off Mohsin Khan’s bowling. 

PBKS were in further trouble after Jitesh Sharma was trapped LBW by Krunal Pandya, who bowled a wicket-maiden over. 

Bairstow struck two fours before the PBKS batter was caught at the third-man region. Mohsin Khan scalped two wickets in the 18^th over to dismiss Rabada and Chahar.

PBKS fell short by 20 runs after needing 31 runs off the final over and LSG successfully defended the total in the end. 

Earlier, LSG, who were put in to bat first, made one change – Avesh Khan replaced Manish Pandey in the eleven. 

PBKS bowled sharply with the new ball as Rabada scalped an early wicket of opposition skipper KL Rahul, who was caught behind in the third over. 

Quinton de Kock struck the ball cleanly for two sixes as LSG were 39-1 at the end of the powerplay. 

Deepak Hooda, who joined de Kock out in the middle, hit his first six of the innings with a lofted shot in the 9^th over. 

LSG were 67-1 at the half-way mark before Hooda launched his second six out of the ground followed by a four. 

de Kock struck two fours in the 13^th over before the opener was caught behind off Sandeep Sharma’s bowling. In the next over, a fantastic direct hit from Bairstow in the deep brought an end to Hooda’s stay at the crease. 

Rabada added two more wickets to the tally to dismiss Krunal Pandya and Ayush Badoni. 

Rahul Chahar grabbed a brilliant catch off his own bowling to dismiss Marcus Stoinis in the next over and then dismissed Holder, who was caught in the deep.

Mohsin Khan and Dushmantha Chameera smacked a six each before Rabada claimed his fourth wicket to dismiss Chameera. 

Mohsin Khan creamed a four on the final delivery as PBKS posted 153/8 in the first innings. 

Brief Scores: Lucknow Super Giants 153/6 (Quinton de Kock 46, Deepak Hooda 34; Kagiso Rabada 4-38) beat Punjab Kings 133/8 (Jonny Bairstow 32, Mayank Agarwal 25; Mohsin Khan 3-24) by 20 runs.