Pooran sets stage for fiery Yadav in LSG win

Former West Indies white-ball captain Nicholas Pooran and a fiery spell from Mayank Yadav, swept hosts Lucknow Super Giants to a 21-run win against Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League, at the BRSABVE Stadium in their second match of this year’s tournament.

Pooran, leading LSG made 42 off 21 deliveries smashing three fours and three sixes with the home team reaching 199 for 8 from their 20 overs after deciding to bat first.

Yadav, playing in his first IPL match, rattled the Kings batsmen taking three for 27 from his four overs.

Pooran shared 47 for the fourth wicket with Quinton de Kock, who top scored for LSG with 54 from 38 balls, smacking five fours and three sixes; Krunal Pandya supported with 43 not out in the middle of a cluster of wickets.

In reply, Kings were restricted to 178 for 5 after a century opening stand between their captain Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow. Dhawan top scored with 70 off 50 balls belting seven fours and three sixes reaching his half-century in the eighth over, while Bairstow produced 42 from 29 balls.

The Kings were 98 without loss at the halfway stage of their chase then Pooran brought Yadav in for the 12th over with the fast bowler taking a wicket in each of his first three overs, all from miscued pulls.

He got Bairstow caught in his first over, Prabhsimran Singh caught in his second over, and Jitesh Sharma caught in his third over.

The Kings were staggering on 139 for 3, and further collapsed in the 17th over when left-arm pacer Mohsin Khan got Dhawan caught and Curran was also caught for a first-ball duck.

England international Sam Curran was the most successful Kings bowler taking 3 for 28 from four overs, and fellow left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh grabbed 2 for 30 from three overs.