Fiery spells from William O’Rourke and Akash Singh Maharaj led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to a comprehensive 33-run victory over Gujarat Titans (GT) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) on Thursday at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad.
Despite the loss, GT remains on top of the IPL points table with 18 points from 13 matches (9 wins, 4 defeats), while LSG sits in sixth place with 12 points from 13 games (6 wins, 7 defeats).
Chasing a daunting 236-run target, GT opened with skipper Shubman Gill and Orange Cap holder Sai Sudharsan—the tournament’s top two scorers. Sudharsan was dismissed in the fifth over by William O’Rourke after scoring 21 off 16 balls (4 fours). Jos Buttler then joined Gill at the crease, and GT closed their powerplay strongly at 67/1, with Buttler smashing Avesh Khan for 21 runs in an over.
Regular boundaries kept GT in the hunt, but Avesh Khan struck in the 8th over, removing Gill for 35 off 20 balls (7 fours), thanks to a stunning catch by Abdul Samad at long-off. Sherfane Rutherford joined Buttler next, but Buttler was bowled by Akash Singh for 33 (18), including 3 fours and 2 sixes.
Rutherford and Shahrukh Khan stitched together a rapid 50-run partnership off just 27 balls. They took Shahbaz Ahmed for 19 runs in the 15th over, bringing the equation down to 71 runs required off 30 balls.
O’Rourke returned in the 17th over and changed the game by removing Rutherford for 38 (22, 1 four, 3 sixes) and Rahul Tewatia for just 2. In the next over, Shahbaz Ahmed dismissed Arshad Khan for 1, with GT needing 43 off 12 balls.
Shahrukh Khan, who fought valiantly, brought up his maiden fifty of IPL 2025 off just 22 balls. However, Avesh Khan removed him in the penultimate over for a well-made 57 (29, 5 fours, 3 sixes). Ayush Badoni cleaned up the tail with two wickets in the final over as GT fell short by 33 runs.
For LSG, William O’Rourke starred with the ball, taking 3/27, while Avesh Khan and Ayush Badoni claimed two wickets each.
Earlier, LSG posted a mammoth 235/2, thanks to a maiden IPL century from Mitchell Marsh and a blazing half-century by Nicholas Pooran. GT skipper Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bowl first. Marsh and Aiden Markram gave LSG a solid start, adding 53 runs in the powerplay.
Marsh reached his sixth fifty of the season in 33 balls and launched an all-out attack, especially targeting Rashid Khan, off whom he scored 25 runs in an over. Markram was dismissed by Sai Kishore for 36 (24), but Pooran immediately took charge with a six off his first ball.
At 160/1 after 15 overs, Marsh continued to dominate, bringing up his maiden IPL century in 56 balls. He was finally dismissed for a sensational 117 off 64 balls (10 fours, 8 sixes) by Arshad Khan. Pooran remained unbeaten on 56* (23 balls), while captain Rishabh Pant added late fireworks with two sixes off Rabada as LSG posted a daunting total.
GT’s bowlers struggled, with Sai Kishore (1/34) and Arshad Khan the only wicket-takers.
Brief Score:
LSG 235/2 (Mitchell Marsh 117, Nicholas Pooran 56*; Sai Kishore 1/34)
GT 202/9 (Shahrukh Khan 57, Sherfane Rutherford 38; William O’Rourke 3/27)