(Cricket news) Lucknow scored 257 runs in the first innings, which was the second-highest team run total in the history of the competition. The highlight was Marcus Stoinis, who scored 72 runs off just 40 deliveries (6×4, 5×6). Kyle Mayers had 54 runs (24b, 7×4, 4×6), Ayush Badoni had 43 runs (24b, 3×4, 3×6), and Nicholas Pooran had 45 runs (19b, 7×4, 1×6) as the other major contributors. Atharva Taide’s quick-fire 66 runs (36b, 8×4, 2×6) were the driving force behind Punjab’s 201 total runs, although they fell short of the enormous total.
Due to his outstanding performance and leadership of the Super Giants’ legendary batting display, Marcus Stonis was rightfully named Player of the Match. The Australian was praised by JioCinema TATA IPL specialist RP Singh “He proved to the think tank that ‘you can send me earlier in the innings’. If I play 50 balls instead of 20-25, then I can score more runs for you. He reads the game well and he’s played against almost every bowler. He’s a great mature player and knows the techniques that a bowler will use and adjusts his batting accordingly. He picks up slower deliveries really well, he can clear long on or long off, his technique makes him great, and he has a lot of strength. The reason he was able to dominate the square leg and mid-wicket area was because he was picking the bowler and played his shots accordingly. He’s a very important player and you can’t imagine this Lucknow team without him.”
With their 257 runs tonight, Lucknow surpassed Royal Challengers Bangalore’s 263 runs against the Pune Warriors in 2013 to become the second-highest run total for a team in history. Parthiv Patel, a TATA IPL expert for JioCinema, was astounded by the batting performance, “Whenever we talk about the Lucknow team, we know they have the balance. The openers are doing well, KL Rahul is scoring consistently. Yes, there is talk about his strike rate, but he has been consistent. When Ayush Badoni is batting, he does it in a floating role while performing. You have two proven finishers in Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran. They have bowlers, as we saw today, with nine bowlers bowling. Everyone can do something or the other. If Deepak Hooda can find some form, they’ll be a complete side at the top of the tournament.”
Eoin Morgan, a JioCinema TATA IPL specialist, also praised the batting order’s level of performance, saying that it was “not easy at all, and for a number of reasons.” KL’s batting hasn’t been at its best lately, but if Lucknow Super Giants go on to win the tournament, he’ll surrender all the runs he’s scored. It’s encouraging to see other men stepping up when one of your greatest players or leaders isn’t producing. Kyle Mayers, Marcus Stoinis, and Ayush Badoni, who has been moved up the order and is excelling, are just a few examples of their strong roster, which includes Mayers at the top of the order.
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