Match Center

That is it from this game and we have yet again witnessed a humdinger of a game. The action in the 2023 Indian T20 League continues on Sunday, the 16th of April with another doubleheader. In the first game, Mumbai will host Kolkata at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT) and that will be followed by a clash between Gujarat and Rajasthan in Ahmedabad at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). You can however catch the build-up for both those games a lot earlier. Cheers!

Sikandar Raza is the Player of the Match for his match-winning knock along with his one wicket. The Zimbabwean star says that it feels great to win the game and credits Shahrukh Khan for the way he finished the game. Adds that it is one of the biggest stages and you want to do well. Admits that he had a few average games and is happy that it went well this evening. Feels that the wicket of Jitesh Sharma was very crucial as he has the ability to hit the big shots and his dismissal could have been the turning point but Shahrukh came in and did the job.

Sam Curran, the stand-in captain of Punjab, calls it an amazing win and is happy that the boys chipped in. Admits that it was not a perfect game. Praises the bowlers and shares that there was dew but the pitch was still offering something. He lauds the way Sikandar Raza batted and is thrilled with the batting of Shahrukh Khan. Hopes that they all keep their form and on his personal form, Sam replies that his rhythm is getting good and credits all the bowlers in his team. Smiles and hopes that Shikhar Dhawan gets fit soon.

KL Rahul, the captain of Lucknow, says that they were 10 runs short and the dew also came in later which helped the batters. Mentions that on a fairly new ground, one cannot rely on previous games' stats. Says that they take it as it goes and they could have got to 180 as well but unfortunately a few of the main batters weren't able to fire. On his splendid catch to dismiss Jitesh Sharma, KL replies that he gives his all when on the ground. Mentions that they have batters in the side who can clear the fence with regularity and it's not just about power but skills as well. Ends by saying that they look to give the batters that freedom so they can do their own thing.

Stay tuned for a few interviews...

Lucknow gave it their all on the field and it's their batting that will have to take the blame for this defeat. Only KL Rahul was the one who fought like a warrior but he received very little support from the other batters. A total of 159 was only going to be below par with the dew setting in and credit goes to the Lucknow bowlers for taking this match into the last over. Yudhvir Singh was incredible in his maiden outing as he bagged a couple of early wickets and Mark Wood once again was fast and furious in his stint. Ravi Bishnoi picked the prized scalps of Sam Curran and Sikandar Raza and the departure of the latter left Punjab in a pickle but Shahrukh Khan, the cricketer, also spread his arms and absorbed all the pressure to earn his team crucial points.

This match saw plenty of twists and turns as momentum was no one's friend. Punjab started on the wrong foot and lost three wickets inside the Powerplay. Matthew Short's early attack though helped them to gather some important runs in the first six overs. The chase never looked secure for the visiting side due to the regular fall of wickets but Sikandar Raza's timely onslaught handed them a solid shot in the arm. He brought this match on level terms and then a timely cameo from Shahrukh Khan won them the game in the end.

There's something in the air in this season's Indian T20 League. Almost every game is going the distance and it's been very hard to predict an outright winner. The afternoon game on Saturday can be counted as an aberration as it was quite one-sided but this one filled our Super Saturday with all the thrill and entertainment. Punjab held on to their nerves in the end and registered a vital away win.

FOUR! Shahrukh Khan seals the win in style! Ravi Bishnoi drags this one down and bowls it outside off. Khan waits for it and thumps it over extra cover. The man from long off can't get there and it will be a boundary. PUNJAB WIN BY 2 WICKETS!

Just short! Good effort in the deep from Deepak Hooda. A tad shorter and around middle, Shahrukh Khan flat-bats it down to long on where Hooda dives forward but fails to reach the ball. He manages to get his body behind it but the batters get another brace.

On middle, Shahrukh Khan gets down on one knee and slog-sweeps it in front of the man at deep mid-wicket. The batters push hard for two and make it back with ease.

Right then, yet another game is going down to the wire. 7 needed off 6 balls looks like a simple equation and someone like Shahrukh Khan can settle this with one big blow but there is pressure and it makes you do funny things. Ravi Bishnoi to bowl...

Back of a length and angled into the batter again at 150.6 clicks. Kagiso Rabada backs away and looks to play at it but pushes it back to the bowler.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Mark Wood comes back strongly and gets rid of Harpreet Brar. On a good length and angled into the batter from around the wicket. Brar backs away past the leg stump and tries to lift it over the cover region. The pace on the ball is just too quick and the outside edge is found. Nicholas Pooran doesn't have to move an inch and pouches it safely. 7 runs needed now off 7 deliveries and Kagiso Rabada walks in next.

FOUR! What a shot! This is bowled from around the wicket and angled in full at the legs. Harpreet Brar goes well past the leg stump and crunches the cover drive through the gap for a boundary.

On a good length around off at 147 clicks, Shahrukh Khan mistimes the slog off the inside edge and toward short fine leg for a single.

SIX! All the way! Mark Wood serves a bumper at around 142 clicks and at a good height as well. Shahrukh Khan is hurried into the pull shot. The ball flies off the top edge and over the keeper's head for a maximum.