Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) produced a clinical batting display to register a comprehensive five-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in a high-scoring match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Thursday. The seventh match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season saw an explosive run chase courtesy Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh.
Pooran was the showstopper, blasting a stunning 70 off 26 deliveries, as Marsh offered solidity with a calm half-century. Shardul Thakur was in the limelight with the ball, destroying SRH's middle order with a four-wicket performance.
The encounter created a new benchmark for matches between these two sides, with a record total of 383 runs being scored—the most in their bilateral history. One of the turning points of the match was the 116-run stand between Pooran and Marsh, which is now the highest second-wicket partnership for LSG, breaking the earlier record of 95 runs held by KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda.
SRH's Fiery Start Fizzles Out Under Pressure
Batting first, SRH made a sizzling opening, thanks to Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. The pair had a breathtaking run rate of 13.5—the highest by any combination of batsmen with a minimum of 500 runs in IPL history. Head, playing with aggression, pulverized 47 from 28 deliveries before debutant Prince Yadav sent him back, taking his first IPL wicket by sending the Australian's stumps flying.
Shardul Thakur then switched the momentum in LSG's favour with a splendid spell, dismissing Abhishek Sharma (6) and Ishan Kishan (0) in the same over. Kishan, who had made a ton in his last game, became the latest batsman to register a duck straight after a hundred.
Even though they had a good beginning, SRH's middle order could not sustain the momentum. Heinrich Klaasen (14) was a victim of a mishap run-out, and Nitish Reddy (32) was bowled by Ravi Bishnoi attempting to push the scoring rate. SRH's hopes of reaching 200 were dwindling at 110/4 in 12 overs—a far cry from their record 286/6 in their last match.
A late flourish by Aniket Verma (36 off 13) gave some hope, but his aggressive style saw him get out. Captain Pat Cummins flirted briefly with three successive sixes but could not continue.
The last two overs only brought in 10 runs, limiting SRH to 190/9 in 20 overs. The pick of the bowlers turned out to be Thakur, who collected 4/34. The figures also netted him the Purple Cap.
Pooran's Blitz Powers LSG to Victory
LSG's chase began on a shaky note as Aiden Markram fell early to Mohammed Shami. Pooran, though, wasted no time in asserting himself, unleashing a merciless onslaught against SRH bowlers. He completed his fifty off only 18 deliveries—the quickest IPL 2025 half-century—hitting seven sixes along the way. Left-arm spinner Abhishek Sharma felt the most of his wrath, leaking two monstrous sixes in the powerplay.
Marsh, who was installed as the Impact Player, came in second in command to Pooran initially, but then went on to strike his second back-to-back half-century off 29 balls when he was trapped lbw by Cummins. Pooran, also, also walked out once he was given lbw on 70, but LSG was already ahead of the curve for a victory by then.
With only 53 required from 54 balls, SRH saw hope briefly when Harshal Patel pulled off an incredible catch to dismiss Ayush Badoni. David Miller and Abdul Samad, however, made sure that there were no more hiccups. Samad, who was playing for LSG for the first time against his old team, contributed a match-winning cameo of 22 from eight balls to complete the chase.
LSG easily touched 193/5 in 16.3 overs, securing their first victory of the season by a commanding five-wicket margin.
Brief Scores:
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 190/9 in 20 overs (Travis Head 47, Aniket Verma 36; Shardul Thakur 4/34, Prince Yadav 1/29)
Lucknow Super Giants: 193/5 in 16.3 overs (Nicholas Pooran 70, Mitchell Marsh 52; Pat Cummins 3/29, Harshal Patel 1/28)
Result: LSG won by five wickets
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