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Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) put up a competitive total of 196/6 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their final IPL 2026 league game clash, riding on key contributions from Josh Inglis and Abdul Samad despite regular breakthroughs from the Punjab bowling attack.
After being asked to bat, Lucknow got off to a flying start as opener Josh Inglis took on PBKS pacer Arshdeep Singh, smashing 16 runs in the opening over. However, the momentum shifted immediately in the next over when Azmatullah Omarzai dismissed Arshin Kulkarni for a golden duck. In the following over, Marco Jansen struck as he clean bowled Nicholas Pooran for just two runs, leaving LSG struggling at 20/2. The innings then saw a recovery in the fifth over as Ayush Badoni attacked Marco Jansen, scoring 18 runs off the over to take LSG to 42/2. He continued the aggressive approach in the next over, hitting Omarzai for 22 runs. Despite the late surge, Lucknow ended the powerplay at 66/2 after losing two quick wickets early on. During the fourth ball of the seventh over, Yuzvendra Chahal provided the breakthrough by dismissing Ayush Badoni, who walked back after a blistering 43 off 18 balls, hitting five fours and three sixes. Following Badoni's departure, skipper Rishabh Pant and opener Josh Inglis continued to keep the scoreboard moving with regular boundaries as the hosts reached 100/3 at the end of 10 overs. In the 14th over, Inglis brought up his half-century in 28 deliveries. However, Chahal struck again to break the 65-run partnership between Pant and Inglis, removing the LSG captain for 26 off 22 balls, an innings featuring three fours. At that stage, Lucknow were 134/4. Runs continued to flow after Pant's dismissal as Lucknow made 157/4 in 16 overs. However, on the final delivery of the 17th over, all-rounder Shashank Singh claimed the crucial wicket of opener Josh Inglis, who departed after a well-compiled 72 off 44 balls, an innings laced with nine fours and two sixes. At that stage, the Super Giants were 169/5. In the following over, Jansen got his second wicket as he removed Mukul Choudhary for one. During the final over, Arshdeep Singh conceded 17 runs as LSG posted a competitive total of 196/6. Abdul Samad remained unbeaten on a quickfire 37 off 20 balls, smashing three fours and as many sixes. For Punjab Kings, Yuzvendra Chahal (2/25), Marco Jansen (2/33), Azmatullah Omarzai (1/29) and Shashank Singh (1/29) were among the wicket-takers. (ANI)
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