NEW DELHI: Lucknow Super Giants clinched a resounding 33-run victory against Gujarat Titans in their
IPL 2024
showdown on Sunday, with all-rounder
Krunal Pandya
lauding his team's exceptional defensive bowling display.
Opting to bat first, LSG put up a competitive total of 163 for 5, propelled by
Marcus Stoinis
' impressive half-century, which formed the backbone of their innings. Stoinis' 58 off 43 deliveries, coupled with crucial contributions from skipper KL Rahul and Nicholas Pooran, laid a solid foundation for LSG's batting effort.
Scorecard: LSG vs GT
However, it was LSG's bowling prowess that truly stole the show, with pacer
Yash Thakur
shining bright with a sensational fifer, claiming five wickets for 30 runs.
Thakur's relentless accuracy and skillful execution dismantled the GT batting lineup, restricting them to a modest total of 130 all out.
Following the match, Krunal Pandya, who delivered a stellar bowling performance, reflected on the team's defensive mindset and their ability to defend a challenging total. Pandya expressed satisfaction with his own contribution, crediting his success to backing his strengths and executing his plans effectively on the field.
"When I went in, I played a couple of balls, I had a chat with Pooran as well, the wicket was very good. We felt that we were 10-15 short but at the end of the day, that's what we got, so we had to defend. I like to know the batters' strengths and weaknesses, and try to bowl according to it. It comes off some days and it doesn't some days. I backed my strengths and stuck to my plans, one of those days I executed what I wanted, tonight it came off. It feels great to defend this score, the way we have defended even last year," Krunal said.
He also highlighted the promising talent of
Mayank Yadav
, underscoring the young bowler's potential to make a significant impact in the future of LSG.
"I don't know what is happening, but I had a couple of seconds with him, he seems OK. He is a bright prospect, bowled gun in the nets, last year missed out. Good head on his shoulders and unbelievable prospect and interesting to see how he will pan out in his career," Krunal added.
Moreover, Pandya's remarkable bowling figures of 3/11 against GT not only played a pivotal role in securing the victory but also etched his name in LSG's history books as delivering the most economical four-over spell against GT in the IPL.
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